Senate Republican leaderMitch McConnell said Wednesday that he believes his party has a "50-50 shot" of regaining control of the chamber.
McConnell told reporters that there were a lot of close races. I think it is going to be close either way.
The comments reflect a greater degree of optimism from the GOP leader after he drew criticism from fellow Republicans when he downplayed the party's chances in the fall elections.
In mid-August, McConnell said at a press conference in Florence, Kentucky, that Senate races are not the same as statewide ones.
McConnell has been careful about overstating any GOP gains in the chamber for the past year. Republicans have been trying to get him to give money to their candidate. McConnell hasn't publicly done so yet.
On Wednesday, McConnell seemed to suggest there is a chance for the GOP to control the House and Senate in January because of the rising issue of inflation.
McConnell and McCarthy have promised to focus on issues like rising costs and crime.
The political dynamics in the last six weeks of the election could help either party. After the Supreme Court invalidated a woman's right to an abortion, Democrats focused on reproductive rights. Republicans have focused their campaigns on inflation and violence.
The claim that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump has been rejected by courts and election officials.
Democrats are optimistic that the Supreme Court's abortion decision will help them in the fall. A ballot measure that would have limited abortion rights was soundly defeated by voters. Surprise wins for Democrats in special elections from Alaska to upstate New York signaled the issue's importance.
The challenge for the party is to keep those voters engaged. On Wednesday, McConnell seemed less concerned about the consequences of abortion.
McConnell was asked if Republicans were concerned about it. Inflation, crime and open borders are the three biggest national issues that people are most concerned about, according to me.
He said that the focus would be on that.
The No.2 Republican in the Senate suggested that Democrats were focused on shiny objects.
"My experience through the years, even in years when we've been protecting incumbents in a bad environment, is that when the basics of an election lock in and for the voters the issues get clarified, it usually does kind of generate a bit of momentum for one side or the other," I believe that will happen for us this year. The pocketbook issues are going to be paramount and all the other issues are going to be kind of shiny objects.
He said it was the economy, the cost of food, the cost of gas, and security that made people feel safe.
Is that true?
Kevin was a writer for the AP in Washington.
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