GOP Leaders Unite for Bicameral Congressional Victories

Republican Party leaders in both houses of Congress are unified in trying to build GOP strength on Capitol Hill, with the hope of maintaining Republican control of the House and gaining a majority in the Senate, The Hill reports.

 

The leaders have traded lists of their top targets for the November contests. House Speaker John Boehner has donated $105,000 to Republican incumbents and candidates for the Senate, while Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has offered about the same amount to House members and candidates.

 

“[Boehner] and I both have contributed to the priorities on each other’s sides,” McConnell told The Hill.

 

Many influential Republicans, including former Majority Leader Dick Armey and Newsmax columnist George Will, have called for the party to focus on Congress rather than the White House, given the uncertainty of the presidential election.

 

Republicans need to capture a net increase of four Senate seats to garner a majority, and only three if Obama loses. In the House, meanwhile, Democrats need to add a net 26 seats to garner a majority.

 

Boehner’s priority list includes Reps. Brian Bilbray of California, Dan Lungren of California, and Charlie Bass of New Hampshire.  

 

McConnell’s list includes Sens. Dick Lugar of Indiana, Orrin Hatch of Utah, and Scott Brown of Massachusetts.