Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday sought to clarify his comment that he is “increasingly optimistic” the GOP presidential battle would require a second ballot at this summer’s national convention in Cleveland.
“What I said, somewhat inartfully, is that we’ll have a nominee once we get to 1,237 votes, and if that does not happen on the first ballot, there will be another ballot,” he told reporters during a weekly press conference.
{mosads}He added, “I hope that out of this process, no matter when it ends — first, second, third or traditional ballot — we’ll have a nominee who will be appealing to the American people and can actually win the election.”
McConnell’s remarks came after he told a local ABC station over the weekend that he was “increasingly optimistic” the Republican National Convention would go to a second ballot.
He said the move would allow “about 60 percent of the delegates who are bound on the first ballot … to do whatever they want.”
McConnell noted during the interview that he is expecting to be a Kentucky delegate at the convention.
His comments were widely seen as a veiled shot at GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, who is leading in the battle for delegates. The businessman won McConnell’s home state last month and is poised to dominate New York’s primary on Tuesday.
McConnell is normally tight-lipped about the GOP presidential race, refusing to directly weigh in and saying he will support the eventual nominee.
Asked whether his original remarks were “passing judgment” on Trump, McConnell replied, “I think I just covered that issue pretty well.”