It’s not surprising, but Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is confused again. Yesterday, when asked about the impact of Donald Trump down-ballot, he made the ridiculous claim that Donald Trump could help Republicans win additional House seats.
In a bit of a flashback Friday, we’d like to remind him of this sad reality, from POLITICO:
Pollster Hired By NRCC Indicated Trump Nomination Would Damage Republicans’ Chances In Congressional Races. “Sackett’s presentation confirmed those worries. His poll showed that a plurality of respondents — 48 percent to 40 percent — would be less likely to vote for a Republican congressional candidate or incumbent if Trump were the nominee. The business mogul and former reality TV star, who has been leading in most GOP polls for months, was the only candidate surveyed on that question, the sources said.”
Kevin McCarthy should recall this, given that he was in the meeting and received that devastating briefing.
But….
ICYMI: Kevin McCarthy says Trump’s intensity could help GOP win House seats
The Sacramento Bee
By Christopher Cadelago
March 10, 2016
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Thursday rejected the possible calamitous effects a Donald Trump nomination could have on the Republican Party, arguing instead that the businessman and political newcomer may improve the chances of GOP House challengers in November.
[…]
In addition to defending a trio of GOP incumbents, McCarthy suggested that despite it being a presidential year where Democratic turnout is generally higher, a Trump nomination could help Republicans expand the map here. McCarthy said the GOP could pick up the seats of Fresno Democrat Jim Costa and San Diego Democrat Scott Peters, and, depending on who emerges from the June primary, also make a run at the Santa Barbara-based seat being vacated by Lois Capps.
“There is four seats you could be competitive in,” with Trump, or any of the other Republican presidential candidates on the ballot, McCarthy said. “They’ve got a challenge inside the Democratic Party right now. Look at Bernie (Sanders) coming back in Michigan. There’s a low intensity level for Hillary (Clinton).”
[…]
“Our desire (for) the House is to become the place of ideas,” he said. “Whoever becomes president, make the debate about policy, so when the election is over we can solve the problems. But the American people decided which way they wanted to go.”