Steele: ‘My number is 39’
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele didn’t make
any predictions for Tuesday’s elections but said making enough gains to
take over control will mean “success” for his party.
On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Steele said considering
the condition of his party after the 2008 election, Republicans winning
39 seats in the House, the number needed to capture the majority in the
House, is a win for the GOP.
the condition of his party after the 2008 election, Republicans winning
39 seats in the House, the number needed to capture the majority in the
House, is a win for the GOP.
“My number is 39,” he said.
Several major polls are predicting that Republicans will pick up between 50 and 60 seats.
“The party has made steady gains,” he said.
Steele urged caution about the turning election tide.
“We
do need to be very careful here,” he said “We do need to be very smart
about the kind of leadership we bring to the table come January and be
smart about what the American people are saying they want us to address
in terms of the economy and job creation.”
do need to be very careful here,” he said “We do need to be very smart
about the kind of leadership we bring to the table come January and be
smart about what the American people are saying they want us to address
in terms of the economy and job creation.”
Going back to the “same old same old” will create a
split in the party and diminish the ability of Republicans to “address
concerns of the people and bring administration to the table to get
something done.”
split in the party and diminish the ability of Republicans to “address
concerns of the people and bring administration to the table to get
something done.”
Those concerns, Steele said, are about “not
compromising away the principles that our party has run on and have
stood for, for a long time.”
compromising away the principles that our party has run on and have
stood for, for a long time.”
He urged the
Obama administration to “come to the table at some point to deal with
these issues” such as deficits and job creation.
Obama administration to “come to the table at some point to deal with
these issues” such as deficits and job creation.
In his weekly radio address, Obama also pushed for
Democrats and Republicans to find a way to cooperate on economic issues
that have slowed the nation’s recovery from the recession.
Democrats and Republicans to find a way to cooperate on economic issues
that have slowed the nation’s recovery from the recession.
Democrats are likely to remain in control in the Senate. On
Saturday, the latest Cook Political report said Republicans would
probably gain between five and seven seats instead of six to eight as
Democratic chances improved in several races, including California.
Saturday, the latest Cook Political report said Republicans would
probably gain between five and seven seats instead of six to eight as
Democratic chances improved in several races, including California.
A CNN poll released Sunday found 44 percent of
those polls were favorable of Republicans while 43 percent found them
unfavorable.
those polls were favorable of Republicans while 43 percent found them
unfavorable.
Steele, who has been the party chairman for two years,
wouldn’t speculate on whether he’d remain chairman of the party and
said that’s an issue to be handled after the election.
wouldn’t speculate on whether he’d remain chairman of the party and
said that’s an issue to be handled after the election.
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