fantasy, too, and has been all along. Because what the Democrats deserve is not just a crushing, historic defeat, but something akin to total destruction.
Dick Morris: GOP Midterm Rout Will Spark Obama Challengers
Friday, 29 Oct 2010 07:06 PM
Veteran political analyst and best-selling author Dick Morris tells Newsmax that President Barack Obama will be vulnerable to a primary challenge from the left in 2012—and that challenge could come from Hillary Clinton.
Morris also says he remains confident that Republicans can capture the 10 Senate seats they need to take control—and believes his “fantasy” of the GOP winning 100 House seats could come true.
In an exclusive interview with Newsmax.TV, Morris says a resounding Republican victory in the midterm elections appears “more and more likely each day. I don’t know a single Republican candidate whose poll I have looked at in the last day or two who is not three or four points better than they were two or three days ago.
“Trend happens at the very end, and you’re really seeing a Republican trend kicking in—a brand new one for the downscale voters who are just beginning to decide, and it’s pretty remarkable.”
He adds: “I predict that as a result of these elections, Obama will get a Democratic primary from the left. I wonder if a Dennis Kucinich may not run against him in that race, assuming he hangs on to his House seat. I think Obama is very vulnerable right now to a challenge from the left.
“If the left-wing challenge gets traction, [Hillary Clinton] might at that point jump in. It’s eerily similar to 1968. The part of Lyndon Johnson is played by Barack Obama. The part of Bobby Kennedy is played by Hillary Clinton. And the part of Eugene McCarthy, who softens it up and tests the territory, might be played by Kucinich or somebody like that.”
Asked why he is among the few analysts who insist Republicans will win 10 seats in the Senate, Morris says: “Right now we have leads in nine of the 10 seats that we need, and in the tenth, West Virginia, the Republicans are coming on strong.
“I think that the current polls are all three points too pro-Democrat, because they’re using turnout models that are really based on the ‘08 election, and that’s an unduly Democratic sample. So I believe we’re going to win the Senate.”
Among the Senate races generally considered tossups, Morris predicts Republican victories in Colorado (Ken Buck), Illinois (Mark Kirk), Pennsylvania (Pat Toomey) and Washington (Dino Rossi).
In Nevada, Republican Sharron Angle has “for the last two to three weeks had a three- or four-point lead, ever since she clobbered Reid in the debate,” Morris points out, “and I think that’s going to hold up.”
John Raese would have to win in West Virginia if Republicans are going to win 10 seats, “and that is the one that at the moment could go either way,” Morris observes.
He also says he would not write off a win in California by Carly Fiorina over incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer, since Boxer is only three points ahead, nor would he write off Connecticut or Delaware, where he says Christine O’Donnell was 23 points behind her Democratic opponent and is now only 10 behind.
Asked if he is predicting that Republicans will win 100 seats in the House, Morris tells Newsmax: “I’m not predicting 100, I’m predicting 60 to 80. But I fantasize 100, and I think that fantasy may come true.”
Morris believes that 60 new House seats are firmly in the hands of the GOP, and he is working with a group called superpacusa.com to help Republican House candidates vying for 24 other seats, including the one held by longtime Rep. Barney Frank in Massachusetts, whom Morris considers vulnerable.
“I believe we’re going to succeed in a lot of those races, and I think [the total gain] may end up being north of 80,” he says.
Morris sees the midterm elections as a referendum on the president and his policies, and a resonating of the tea party message of smaller government and lower spending, plus one other factor: A referendum on Congress.
“People saw this year Congress up close and personal,” he observes.
“We actually saw a law being passed really up close, and we saw all the deals and all the shenanigans that went on. So Congress has a low rating and I think that has a lot to do with it.”
Morris says the attempt by Bill Clinton to convince Democrat Kendrick Meek to drop out of the Senate race in Florida against Republican Marco Rubio and independent Charlie Crist will actually help Rubio.
“Crist showed his true colors when he coordinated with the Obama White House in their efforts to get Clinton to get Meek to pull out of the race. That really shows that we have two Democratic candidates and only one Republican.”
Morris adds that he would like to know what Meek was offered to pull out of the race, and hopes a Republican committee will ultimately issue subpoenas to find out.