The Republicans’ new Pledge to America is fine as a campaign document but doesn’t go nearly far enough in its policy prescriptions, says political strategist Dick Morris.
For example, the document proposes cutting $100 billion in discretionary spending. “We’re going to have to do much more than that,” the Fox News analyst told Newsmax.TV.
House Minority Leader John Boehner has proposed a reduction of about $300 billion, which would bring spending back to pre-President Obama levels.
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“That’s more the magnitude of what we’re going to need,” Morris said.
During the interview, Morris voiced his expectations for his participation the Newsmax webcast entitled “Make America Great Again,” which will feature Sarah Palin, beginning Oct. 12.
“We’ll go much further than the Republican Party did,” he said. “We’ll sketch out exactly what the Republican Congress needs to do next year to make America great again. We’ll go into almost every area of public policy.”
Morris continues to believe that Republicans will regain control of the Senate in November’s elections. Republicans need to pick up 10 seats. They already lead for seats in eight states: North Dakota, Indiana, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Colorado, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
The GOP probably will win in Nevada for the ninth. And possibilities for the 10th include New York, California, Washington, Delaware and Connecticut, Morris says.
“Those are five legitimate shots, and I think we’ll win three or four.”
Here’s what he thinks about specific races:
Delaware
Although Republican Christine O’Donnell trails her opponent Chris Coons by about 15 points in the polls, she can still pull it out, Morris says.
She’s been unfairly vilified, just as Sarah Palin was when she first went national, he says. Most of the shots are trivial.
“Who cares what her view about personal sexual morality is and whether in high school she had friends who dabbled in witchcraft?” Morris said. “We have a president who admits to cocaine use in high school. We had a first lady who had séances in the White House” (Nancy Reagan).
On the core issues, Delaware voters side with O’Donnell. “Chris Coons was a self-described Marxist as a kid. I’d rather be a witch than a Marxist,” Morris said.
West Virginia
Morris believes Republican John Raese will defeat Democrat Joe Manchin. “Manchin is a well-liked governor.” But with Raese ahead by 3 points in the polls, it’s clear voters “don’t want Manchin to go Washington,” Morris said.
New York
Republican Joe DioGuardi has a good shot against incumbent Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand. “As voters learn who DioGuardi is, they’re really getting interested in supporting him,” Morris says. “This could be a bolt from the blue.”
With Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo also vulnerable, “New York state could be the epicenter of the 2010 revolution,” Morris says.
Washington
Republican Dino Rossi, now behind in the polls, has been inept at responding to Democrat Patty Murray’s attacks, Morris says. “Rossi needs to step it up a notch.”
California
Republican Carly Fiorina trails Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer by 2 to 3 percentage points in recent polls. “Fiorina still has a chance, but I wouldn’t definitely count on that race,” Morris said.
Nevada
Republican Sharron Angle is in a good position to defeat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with polls showing a virtual tie. Given that Reid is “probably the most miserable member of the Senate,” he’s unlikely to pick up many undecided votes, Morris says. The efforts of Americans for New Leadership have played a big role in boosting Angle, he says.
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