Sen. Rick Scott will seek to oust Minority Leader Mitch McConnell as the top Republican in the Senate.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that the Florida Republican announced his challenge to McConnell during a closed-door luncheon at which lawmakers were to discuss the party’s lackluster performance last week.
Democrats retained control of the Senate with at least 50 seats and Vice President Kamala Harris as a tie-breaker. Republicans hope to add senator number 50 on their side next month if Herschel Walker can defeat incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock.
Scott and McConnell had sniped at each other about the Senate candidates the GOP put up this year. Scott serves as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and thus is the point man to recruit and fund such efforts.
McConnell had questioned the quality of some GOP candidates, while Scott predicted the party would hold at least 52 seats when the votes were counted.
Back in August, for instance, McConnell told reporters, “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’s comment was taken as a shot against many GOP candidates supported by former President Donald Trump.
Trump this week blamed McConnell for the party’s defeats.
“He blew the Midterms, and everyone despises him and his otherwise lovely wife, Coco Chow!” Trump said, referring to McConnell’s spouse, Elaine Chao.
McConnell, however, also has criticized Scott for his “Rescue America” plan. The broad proposal includes ideas that all Americans should pay some income taxes – nearly half of Americans do not as of now – and that all federal laws should be reviewed or allowed to sunset.
McConnell ripped that as raising income taxes on the poor, and as a threat to Social Security and Medicare.
The Journal reported on Tuesday that GOP senators remained mum about the issue. But, the paper added, Sens. Ron Johnson, Ted Cruz, and Rand Paul declined to commit to backing McConnell or his leadership team.
JustTheNews.com reported Tuesday that McConnell’s office “un-invited” Scott from the GOP’s weekly press conference after the Floridian threw down his gauntlet.
Asked about Scott’s move, McConnell told reporters, “I don’t own this job. Anybody in the conference is certainly entitled to challenge me. And I welcome the contest.”
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