Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he hasn’t abandoned hope that he will lead a Senate majority next year after accidentally being addressed as “majority leader.”
Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), as presiding officer, made the slip-up while recognizing McConnell for a floor speech Wednesday morning.
MCCONNELL QUIETLY OPTIMIST REPUBLICANS WILL RECAPTURE SENATE: REPORT
“Thank you. I haven’t given up hope,” McConnell responded, before launching into remarks about the continuing resolution that Congress must pass to make sure the government is funded past Friday.
The Kentucky Republican has drawn the ire of conservatives for comments he made last month calling into question his party’s chances of taking back the Senate in November.
“I think there’s probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate. Senate races are just different — they’re statewide, candidate quality has a lot to do with the outcome,” McConnell said at the time. “Right now, we have a 50-50 Senate and a 50-50 country, but I think when all is said and done this fall, we’re likely to have an extremely close Senate, either our side up slightly or their side up slightly.”
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However, the minority leader reportedly struck a more optimistic tone behind closed doors during a meeting with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce last week.
