But McConnell doesn’t see his clash with the former President emerging as much of an issue — at least not yet.
McConnell had a warning of sorts to Republican candidates running on Trump’s false claims.
“It’s important for candidates to remember we need to respect the results of our democratic process unless the court system demonstrates that some significant fraud occurred that would change the outcome,” McConnell said.
And that single factor most certainly could be Trump.
“I still say it’s 50-50,” McConnell said, assessing the GOP chances to take back the Senate. Comparing Biden’s first midterm election to then-President Barack Obama’s in 2010, McConnell recalled that the Senate GOP at the time “nominated some unelectable candidates.” But he noted that Republicans only had 40 seats at the beginning of that cycle, compared to 50 now.
“It took us six years to climb out of that hole,” McConnell said of 2010. “We’re not in a hole now.”
“I think from an atmospheric point of view it’s highly likely to be a situation where the wind is at our backs,” he added.
“I think I can pretty confidently say, we won’t lose any elections over that issue, anywhere in the country,” McConnell said. “People are concerned about a wholly different set of concerns. Inflation, an out-of-control border, Afghanistan withdrawal, the controversy over covid. I mean, the thought that a single Senate race in America would be decided over that issue strikes me as being wildly out of touch with what the American people are interested in.”
Courting governors despite Trump’s wrath
Other potential clashes with Trump could still yet occur.
Ducey continues to publicly say he’s not interested in running, while Hogan has yet to express serious interest in a Senate bid. McConnell said, “I just don’t know” if they’ll mount campaigns.
“Well, they’d both be ideal candidates, for obvious reasons,” McConnell said of Hogan and Ducey. “Both enjoy high approval ratings, and I think would make both those races instantly competitive.”
“We think New Hampshire is going to be much more receptive to Republicans as well, and we think we’ll have a good candidate there,” McConnell said.
Biden cited Sununu’s comments to rail on Republicans at his press conference last week. And McConnell refused to tell reporters last week what the GOP agenda would be if his party were to take back the Senate, saying instead the election will be a referendum on Biden.
Asked why Senate Republicans didn’t have an election-year agenda, McConnell told CNN: “I think it’s important for every candidate running next year to say what he or she is for.”
GOP leader doesn’t rule out engaging in Missouri primary
Yet another state is on McConnell’s radar: Missouri.
“Missouri is potentially challenging depending on the outcome in the primary,” McConnell said candidly, without identifying Greitens by name.
McConnell would not say if his well-funded super PAC, the Senate Leadership Fund, would oppose Greitens and spend money in the primary if he further separates himself from the pack of other GOP candidates, including Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, attorney Mark McCloskey and Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long.
“All I’ll say about Missouri at this point is we’re keeping our eye on it,” McConnell said.
For McConnell, there have been two potential clashes with Trump that worked themselves out — in Georgia and Pennsylvania.
But Walker’s ability to raise cash and put together a solid campaign team, seemed to win over McConnell, who now backs the former football star and sees the race against Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock as neck-and-neck. Walker’s campaign says he’s “dedicating his life” to helping individuals struggling with mental health.
“I looked into Herschel Walker’s record — I’m entirely comfortable with him,” McConnell said when asked about the candidate’s past. “We believe he starts his race dead even, pretty unusual against the incumbent anywhere in the country. And I think when you see his finance report, it’ll be impressive as well.”
“In terms of Pennsylvania, I think we have an embarrassment of riches,” McConnell said. “Maybe riches literally given the amount of money being spent up there.”
In Alaska, the situation is different, McConnell notes.
“We’re going to be all in Alaska helping Lisa, and that’s one place where the former President and I have a disagreement,” he said, noting that the National Republican Senatorial Committee and his super PAC would be prepared to help Murkowski if necessary.
“People in Alaska have to decide whether that’s a terribly relevant issue to them,” said McConnell, who endured Trump’s wrath last year after pointedly blaming the former President for the Capitol Hill riot attack despite having voted to acquit him in his impeachment trial.
Republican candidates run on Trump’s election lie
A number of Senate GOP candidates across the country have followed Trump’s lead in trying to sow doubt about Trump’s loss in 2020. Missouri’s Long and Hartzler, North Carolina Rep. Ted Budd and Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks all voted not to certify two key states that Biden won. Trump has rewarded Brooks and Budd with his endorsement.
“I think the voters of these states are going to make these decisions, as well they should, and I think every state in America will accurately count the votes and certify who won,” he said when asked about Brooks.
But these Senate Republican candidates could very well become members of McConnell’s conference, which the veteran Kentuckian will once again try to lead in the next Congress spanning 2023-2024. If his GOP colleagues elect him again, McConnell will be the longest-serving Senate party leader in history.
Asked if he would attempt to stay on as leader through the end of his Senate term, which ends in January 2027, McConnell wouldn’t say.
“Well, I’m gonna be running again (for leader) in November,” McConnell said. “And we’ll see what happens later.”
CNN’s Ted Barrett and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.
