McConnell’s frailty casts pall over GOP ahead of 2024 election | Health & Fitness

WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s health woes risk spilling into the 2024 race, where Republicans face new questions about whether their top tactician and fundraising magnet is up to the task of reclaiming the majority.

The 81-year-old, who has battled his party’s growing populist wing, set out this year to block the type of far-right candidates backed by former President Donald Trump who, he says, cost Republicans the Senate in 2022.

McConnell’s latest episode — a second public freeze in as many months — comes as he needs to wrestle once again with potentially messy Senate primaries in key states such as Ohio, Nevada, Arizona and West Virginia.

The conservative National Review called in an editorial this week for McConnell to step down, saying he has “noticeably aged” in recent months and the two recent incidents affect “his ability to function as the leading representative of his caucus.”

A McConnell ally said the leader has maintained his normal political schedule including phone calls, meetings and fundraisers since returning to work April 17 from a concussion that sidelined him for weeks. On Thursday alone, he made fundraising calls that brought in more than $150,000, a person familiar with McConnell’s efforts said.

Others point to a fundraiser McConnell attended just hours after his latest episode as evidence that he’s up to the job.

“That’s the reason for the immense respect our donors have for the leader, which is a key driver for our success,” Steven Law, president and CEO of Senate Leadership Fund super-PAC allied with McConnell that raised $289 million in the 2022 election, said in a statement.

But McConnell’s importance to the party machine, coupled with his visibly increased frailty, begs the question: Can the party’s quarterback maintain through next November the type of grueling campaign pace that has been his hallmark for nearly two decades?

Democrats now control the Senate, 51-49, but they must defend eight competitive seats, including in Republican-heavy West Virginia, Montana and Ohio. None of the GOP-held seats on the ballot next year are currently considered competitive.

“Even if he takes a reduced role in the races, the map is very good for Republicans,” Republican strategist Lisa Camooso Miller said.

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WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s health woes risk spilling into the 2024 race, where Republicans face new questions about whether their top tactician and fundraising magnet is up to the task of reclaiming the majority.

The 81-year-old, who has battled his party’s growing populist wing, set out this year to block the type of far-right candidates backed by former President Donald Trump who, he says, cost Republicans the Senate in 2022.

McConnell’s latest episode — a second public freeze in as many months — comes as he needs to wrestle once again with potentially messy Senate primaries in key states such as Ohio, Nevada, Arizona and West Virginia.

The conservative National Review called in an editorial this week for McConnell to step down, saying he has “noticeably aged” in recent months and the two recent incidents affect “his ability to function as the leading representative of his caucus.”

A McConnell ally said the leader has maintained his normal political schedule including phone calls, meetings and fundraisers since returning to work April 17 from a concussion that sidelined him for weeks. On Thursday alone, he made fundraising calls that brought in more than $150,000, a person familiar with McConnell’s efforts said.

Others point to a fundraiser McConnell attended just hours after his latest episode as evidence that he’s up to the job.

“That’s the reason for the immense respect our donors have for the leader, which is a key driver for our success,” Steven Law, president and CEO of Senate Leadership Fund super-PAC allied with McConnell that raised $289 million in the 2022 election, said in a statement.

But McConnell’s importance to the party machine, coupled with his visibly increased frailty, begs the question: Can the party’s quarterback maintain through next November the type of grueling campaign pace that has been his hallmark for nearly two decades?

Democrats now control the Senate, 51-49, but they must defend eight competitive seats, including in Republican-heavy West Virginia, Montana and Ohio. None of the GOP-held seats on the ballot next year are currently considered competitive.

“Even if he takes a reduced role in the races, the map is very good for Republicans,” Republican strategist Lisa Camooso Miller said.

…continued

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