Trump clashes with McConnell on Senate midterm outlook

Former President Donald Trump is fuming over how Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) downplayed expectations of Republicans retaking the Senate last week, citing “candidate quality.”

“Why do Republicans Senators allow a broken down hack politician, Mitch McConnell, to openly disparage hard working Republican candidates for the United States Senate,” Trump said on Truth Social on Saturday.

“This is such an affront to honor and to leadership. He should spend more time (and money!) helping them get elected, and less time helping his crazy wife and family get rich on China!” he added, referring to allegations McConnell’s wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, may have misused her office.

McConnell drew Trump’s ire when he said on Thursday it was more likely that the House flips to Republican control this fall than the Senate.

“Senate races are just different. They’re statewide. Candidate quality has a lot to do with the outcome​,” he said at a Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce luncheon when asked about the 2022 election, reports NBC News.

The Senate minority leader softened the blow by adding: “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.”

Many GOP Senate candidates that Trump favored during the primaries appear to be struggling in the upcoming general election, according to polls. Dr. Mehmet Oz is trailing Lt. Gov. John Fetterman by double-digits in Pennsylvania, and in Georgia, former NFL star Herschel Walker is under fire for refusing to debate Sen. George Warnock (D).

The Senate Leadership Fund, which is aligned with McConnell, announced last week it was buying $28 million of TV and radio ads to boost author DJ Vance, who is in a tight race against Rep. Tim Ryan in Ohio.

The success of Trump-backed candidates is being watched to gauge the former President’s power as a GOP kingmaker and a potential 2024 presidential run. One of his potential rivals, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), is currently on tour to boost several candidates favored by Trump.