Top GOP senator ‘more optimistic’ about majority

by Jordain Carney - 09/12/16 8:58 PM ET

Sen. John Cornyn, the Senate’s No. 2 Republican, said Monday that he’s feeling increasingly hopeful about his party’s chances of keeping the Senate majority as the presidential race tightens.

“I’m more optimistic than I have been in a while,” the Texas Republican told reporters. “As the gap between [Donald] Trump and [Hillary] Clinton has shrunk it’s made life a little easier on some of our incumbent senators running for reelection.”

{mosads}Though Trump still faces a tougher electoral map, a Washington Post-ABC News poll released over the weekend had Clinton leading Trump by only 5 points with likely voters. Senate Republicans are scheduled to meet with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, the GOP vice presidential nominee, on Tuesday.

“I hope that trends holds up, because I think no matter what happens I would like to have the majority in the Senate to help determine what the agenda would be,” Cornyn added.

“If the election were held today, I’d feel pretty good about it, but obviously the election isn’t today,” he said.

His comments come as Senate GOP leadership has tried to put space between themselves and the presidential campaign as their party defends 24 Senate seats in November, including a handful in purple states previously won by President Obama.

Cornyn — who before the summer recess routinely declined to answer Trump questions — warned earlier this year that the brash businessman could be an “albatross” for the party on down-ballot races.

Democrats need to win back five seats—or four if they also retain the White House—to regain control of the Senate. They’ve raced to link vulnerable GOP incumbents in the handful of races that will decide control of the Senate to Trump, who they believe will help drag down GOP congressional candidates.

Cornyn’s comments come after Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told The Hill that despite a recent spate of positive surveys keeping control of the Senate will still be challenging.

NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist polls released Sunday found GOP Sens. John McCain (Ariz.), Johnny Isakson (Ga.) and Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), as well as Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.) who is running for Senate in Nevada, ahead in their races.

Tags John Cornyn John McCain Johnny Isakson Kelly Ayotte Mike Pence Mitch McConnell