“Now we take Georgia, and then we change America,” Chuck Schumer told a crowd gathered in Brooklyn on Saturday, following Joe Biden’s victory.
That message underscores why many pundits and political commentators believe Donald Trump won’t ultimately receive much in the way of GOP energy when it comes to contesting the outcome of the presidential election. That doesn’t mean they won’t parrot his talking points, but that’s something different from signing up to fight a losing battle.
The presidency is lost. Trump has no case. And even if you’re inclined to dispute that, there’s no disputing this: Trump’s case is not strong. To call it a long shot would be an understatement.
By contrast, the odds are still in Republicans’ favor when it comes to holding the Senate. From a cold, calculating perspective (and Mitch McConnell is nothing if not cold and calculating) expending time, energy, and resources to help repair Trump’s bruised ego rather than focusing on eminently winnable runoffs in Georgia makes little sense.
Underscoring the sense of urgency was Kelly Loeffler, who is, of course, on the ballot. “Now more than ever, we NEED to keep the Senate in Republican hands,” she said, in a tweet. On Saturday, Loeffler described herself and David Perdue as “the last line of defense against the radical left.”
While the “radical left” canard works as an emotional appeal to some voters, what’s at stake is actually far more mundane, but no less important to dyed-in-the-wool Republicans.
Rational people aren’t concerned about the US turning into Venezuela under a Biden presidency and a Democratic Senate. Not even a little bit. Remember: GOP stalwarts have known Biden for decades. Anyone who knows American politics knows long-serving Republicans are not worried about Biden attempting to do anything that could even remotely be described as “radical” from a social perspective.
What’s at stake, rather, are the Trump tax cuts, the filibuster, and the fate of Democrats’ big spending ambitions. Some would argue Democrats will attempt to pack the Supreme Court, but that seems unlikely, despite Schumer’s “everything is on the table” rhetoric.
I’d argue Trump became a liability to McConnell over the summer, when the administration’s response to the pandemic contributed to a shift in the odds of Democrats flipping the Senate. Once McConnell secured a third Supreme Court confirmation, the law of diminishing returns kicked into high gear. The president became more than a liability. Suddenly, he was an albatross — and a rather boisterous one at that.
It seems far-fetched to believe that someone as Machiavellian as McConnell would risk squandering scarce resources (even if it’s just time) on Trump’s exceedingly quixotic legal challenges, when virtually nothing besides the president’s pride depends on them. What’s at stake in Georgia is much more concrete, and the hyperbole is already at a fever pitch.
The Susan B. Anthony List’s PAC is dedicating $4 million to support Loeffler and Perdue. “We are going all in for pro-life champions Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue,” Mallory Quigley, national spokeswoman for the Women Speak Out PAC, said. “Without a pro-life Republican majority in the Senate, there would be no check on the… radical pro-abortion lobby bent on ditching the filibuster and packing the Court.”
Simply put: Trump doesn’t matter at this juncture. He’s a distraction, and not one that McConnell is likely to suffer gladly depending on how he acts between now and the Georgia runoffs. The last thing Senate GOPers need is for Trump to say (or do) anything that might compel voters to turn out in droves against Loeffler and Perdue.
That certainly doesn’t mean the two incumbents won’t welcome Trump’s support. But you can understand why it’s a delicate balancing act. Trump looks poised to lose Georgia, even after a prospective recount, and while he could potentially rally Republican voters in the state behind the Senate cause, he could just as easily motivate Democrats who would otherwise be predisposed to sitting out the runoffs, content that sanity has been restored to the White House.
The same is true on the Democratic side. Although Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer don’t have to worry about Biden saying anything untoward or outrageous, they do need to ensure the proverbial “troops” don’t venture too far off script.
“For Democrats, who have struggled in the past to turn out voters in runoffs, it will be a bank-shot attempt to harness total control of Washington after a spate of otherwise disappointing congressional elections,” The New York Times wrote Friday. “They were already so preoccupied with the task that in Washington, Speaker Pelosi urged Democratic lawmakers in a private call on Thursday to mind their messaging in the weeks ahead or risk alienating swing voters in Georgia.”
Roll Call underscores the extent to which the “machines” (as it were) are ramping up. “A massive amount of organizing muscle and tens of millions of dollars from both Democrats and Republicans is sure to be headed to the Peach State,” a Saturday piece reads. “Fundraising emails have already been flying in Georgia and outside groups have announced plans for spending on advertising with Senate control potentially in the balance.”
Speaking Friday in Frankfort, Kentucky, McConnell was straightforward. “It makes a big difference who wins the two seats in Georgia. If the Democrats were to win the two seats, Chuck Schumer will be the majority leader and the significance of that job as we’ve discussed before, is the majority leader gets to decide what the agenda is, what you’re going to do, what you’re not going to do,” he remarked. “Most pundits thought we were going to lose the Senate, but we have not yet actually secured the majority. That will be determined in Georgia.”
Now, you tell me: Does McConnell care what happens to Trump at this point?
That’s a rhetorical question.
Trump managed to get a record number of Republicans to go to the polls, which
resulted in Republican gains down ballot and prevented what many thought would be a
“blue wave”. I’m sceptical about whether those voters will turn out, without Trump on
the ballot. I do think Abrams will continue to turn out voters in Georgia.
It may be helpful that Trump is telling them that the election is rigged against them…..
they can’t be feeling like their vote mattered…..so why vote?
Maybe a little wishful thinking……considering the money that is going to be flowing into Georgia
from both parties.
I expect a massive GOP voter turnout in Georgia, because that is the last chance after losing the White House – and the close race in Georgia will cause the stay-at-home voters to second-guess their choice.
Totally agree. I will be very surprised if the GOP does not win both seats. The shock of Georgia turning blue will be highly motivating while Democrats will still be celebrating. Fear, even if irrational, will drive a heavy GOP turnout.
I’d be very surprised if a 50/50 Senate resulted with the elimination of the filibuster. That may have to wait until 2022 at the earliest imho.
Yeah. That’s the thing: that talking point is just another GOP scare tactic, not because it wouldn’t have dramatic consequences, but because it isn’t likely. Same thing with court packing. Highly unlikely, but still right there, front and center in the messaging.
The Donald still is the Donald. Georgia is what he can use as leverage or vindictiveness.
Much credit goes to law enforcement and the media for the lack of outright gunplay thus far from the manly men.
Georgia will become a hotbed of hotheads from both sides. I hope they enforce an open container policy. Although social media has the same intoxicating effects as liquid courage.
I much preferred America when all the kooks concentrated on UFOs.
I would not be surprised at a “behind the scenes” deal being worked out between Trump and McConnell.
Trump agrees to campaign for Republican voter turnout in Georgia and in exchange, McConnell agrees to do everything he can to protect Trump post-presidency from Congressional investigations.
Great deal for McConnell as Biden on NPR interview stated that the US does not have a history of prosecuting former Presidents. Postmaster DeJoy and Guiliani could easily go down. The Donalds real problems are NY and debt.
The republican’s will win both seats no matter how much money the democrats throw at the contest. Just like Susan Collins was suppose to lose in a state that went blue and didn’t, this to will have the same outcome. After winning the WH the democratic base just won’t be as motivated.