House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy speculated Thursday that Donald Trump as Republican nominee could help Republicans pick up Congressional seats. Donald Trump thanked the Congressman on Twitter Sunday.
McCarthy did not endorse Trump, but he argued the increased “intensity” Trump brings to the GOP electorate could benefit the party and help Republicans gain House seats in November, according to the Sacramento Bee.
McCarthy said Democrats have an enthusiasum gap.
“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,” McCarthy said of Hillary Clinton, who is on pace to wrap up the Democratic nomination.
Linking to the Bee article Trump tweeted Sunday: “Thank you Kevin. With unification of the party, Republican wins will be massive!”
Thank you Kevin. With unification of the party, Republican wins will be massive! https://t.co/1rmyCGSlsV
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2016
McCarthy’s take conflicts with statements House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who has denounced Trump, though stopped of ruling out supporting the billionaire in a general election.
McCarthy’s hopeful analysis also contrasts with election handicappers’ who predict either Trump or Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, would lose the presidential race badly and in the process cost the GOP control of the Senate and seats in the House.
Nonpartisan political analyst Stuart Rothenberg wrote last week that it “might be true” that Trump, or Cruz, would turn out more voters for the GOP in November.
“But it is also very likely that both would lose more usually reliable Republican voters, who would vote Democratic or stay away from the polls because they find Cruz too conservative or unlikeable and Trump too crude and authoritarian,” Rothenberg wrote.
