Mitch McConnell says Georgia Senate runoff was a 'fiasco' and warns he will get 'fully involved' in primaries because he 'actually wants to win'

 Mitch McConnell made a subtle dig at Donald Trump as he branded the Georgia Senate runoff a 'fiasco'.

The Senate Minority Leader said he would be prepared to get involved in future primaries in order to stop another general election loss.

By convention, party leaders do not normally involve themselves with GOP primaries but McConnell says he will do what he can to win next time.  

Mitch McConnell made a subtle dig at Donald Trump as he branded the Georgia Senate runoff a 'fiasco'

Mitch McConnell made a subtle dig at Donald Trump as he branded the Georgia Senate runoff a 'fiasco'

January's Georgia runoff saw two Republican incumbents, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, lose out to Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. 


The results gave Democrats effective control of the Senate, with both parties holding 50 seats in the Chamber but Vice President Kamala Harris's tiebreaking vote conferring a majority.

McConnell told The Wall Street Journal: 'Georgia was a fiasco. We all know why that happened.

'Getting candidates who can actually win in November,' is the priority, McConnell said. 

He added: 'That may or may not involve trying to affect the outcome of the primaries.' 

The Senate Minority Leader said 'electability' was the key concern rather than each candidate's brand of politics as his party faces an identity crisis in the wake of Trump

The Senate Minority Leader said 'electability' was the key concern rather than each candidate's brand of politics as his party faces an identity crisis in the wake of Trump

McConnell said 'electability' was the main factor for him rather than any particular brand of Republicanism. 

McConnell's comments come as Sean Hannity called him 'sanctimonious' and warned he will soon be challenged for leadership of the Republican party.


The GOP leader wrote in the Wall Street Journal on Monday that he bore no ill will to the seven Republican senators who voted to impeach.

He spelled out his reasons for voting to acquit - arguing that he felt the Constitution did not allow for impeaching a president who has already left office.

But, in a careful threading of the needle, he insisted he respected those who voted differently to him.

Mitch McConnell voted to acquit Trump on Saturday, then savaged him on the Senate floor

Mitch McConnell voted to acquit Trump on Saturday, then savaged him on the Senate floor

Sean Hannity used his Fox News show on Monday night to attack the Senate Minority Leader

Sean Hannity used his Fox News show on Monday night to attack the Senate Minority Leader

'I don't begrudge my colleagues their own conclusions,' he wrote. 'I respect senators who reached the opposite answer.' 

He added: 'There is no question former President Trump bears moral responsibility. His supporters stormed the Capitol because of the unhinged falsehoods he shouted into the world's largest megaphone.

'His behavior during and after the chaos was also unconscionable, from attacking Vice President Mike Pence during the riot to praising the criminals after it ended.'

McConnell speaks out against Trump after voting to clear him
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McConnell is struggling to keep the pro- and anti-Trump factions of his party together

McConnell is struggling to keep the pro- and anti-Trump factions of his party together

McConnell on Monday wrote an op ed insisting his vote did not vindicate Trump

McConnell on Monday wrote an op ed insisting his vote did not vindicate Trump

Hannity, one of the most passionate defenders of the former president, accused McConnell of failing Trump when he was in office, and of failing to effectively attack Democrats for their own feisty rhetoric.

He also singled out John Thune, a Republican South Dakota senator, who like McConnell voted to acquit, then condemned Trump, saying: 'What former president Trump did to undermine faith in our election system and disrupt the peaceful transfer of power is inexcusable.'

Hannity on Monday hit back: 'Where was John Thune and Mitch McConnell fighting against the biggest abuse of power corruption scandal in our history with Operation Crossfire Hurricane?' Hannity asked.

'They were missing in action.

'Where's the sanctimonious Mitch McConnell, John Thune, demanding that Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters - when is he going to give a speech on the Senate floor and hold those Democrats accountable for their incitement of insurrection and their insurrection-like language?

'The time is now coming for new leadership in the U.S. Senate.'

Mitch McConnell says Georgia Senate runoff was a 'fiasco' and warns he will get 'fully involved' in primaries because he 'actually wants to win' Mitch McConnell says Georgia Senate runoff was a 'fiasco' and warns he will get 'fully involved' in primaries because he 'actually wants to win' Reviewed by Your Destination on February 16, 2021 Rating: 5

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