McConnell: Dems ‘overplayed their hand’ on Kavanaugh
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Tuesday that he believes Democrats’ tactics on the recent Supreme Court fight backfired and have helped Republicans.
“I think they overplayed their hand. I think the tactics turned off people and turned on our base. And they’ve enhanced our chances of holding the Senate,” McConnell told Kentucky radio station WHAS.
{mosads}He added that he believed the tactics from Democrats had been a “big help” and that he thinks Republicans are already seeing a boost in states including Montana, North Dakota, Missouri, Indiana, West Virginia and Tennessee.
Five of those states were won by Trump, and Republicans are hoping to unseat their vulnerable Democratic opponents. In Tennessee, Republicans are hoping to hold on to a seat currently held by retiring GOP Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.).
“I think it’s helpful … Everybody knows the Democrats are energized, it’s no secret they have been for a while,” McConnell added. “This has been like a shot of adrenaline to Republican voters.”
Republicans and Trump are signaling they want to weaponize the fight over Kavanaugh in the November midterm elections against Democrats who opposed him, arguing it adds to the narrative that they are out of touch with their home states.
Democrats argue that Kavanaugh has been plagued by lukewarm approval ratings, which they hope will help drive turnout of their base and let them win over female voters.
A CNN survey released on Tuesday found 54 percent of likely voters saying they support the Democrat and 41 percent backing a Republican. It also found that 63 percent of female voters say they would support the Democratic candidate compared to 33 percent who say they would vote for the Republican candidate.
An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released last week, at the height of the Kavanaugh fight, found that Democrats’ 10-point enthusiasm advantage had shrunk to 2 points.
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