McConnell warns of control over the House ‘can go both ways’

Leader of the First Chamber Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell warns First Chamber of Deputies ‘could go both ways’ in November On The Money: McConnell says it’s time to start coronavirus talks again | New report finds majority of Americans support merger moratorium | Corporate bankruptcies on pace for 10-year-old high McConnell: Time to start coronavirus talks MORE (R-Ky.) Warned Tuesday that he thought maintaining the majority would be “difficult.”

“What I would tell you is that this is a tough fight. It can go either way. We are optimistic that we can continue,” he said during a Fox News interview when asked how he was fighting for the First Chamber would be handicapped.

McConnell said there are about eight Senate races he would compare to “fighting a knife in an alley. They are tough challenges.”

“This will always be a difficult cycle for us,” he said, adding that “there is a lot of exposure around the country.”

McConnell mentioned the states he did not consider field game races. But Arizona and Colorado, where GOP Sens. Martha McSallyMartha Elizabeth McSallyMcConnell warns First Chamber control ‘could go either way’ in November The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden Catches Harris as Running Mate Progressive Jewish Group Supports Biden MORE en Cory GardnerCory Scott GardnerMcConnell warns of House control ‘could go either way’ in November First Chamber Democrats ask Trump to take back controversial public land nominees The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Speculation over Biden’s running mate announcement MORE are on the ballot, are ranked by political handicappers as leaning against Democrats. Meanwhile, Senate battles in Georgia, Iowa, Maine, North Carolina and Montana, all currently held by Republicans, are considered toss-up races.

Republicans are still seen as the favorite to win back a Senate seat in Alabama, where sen. Doug Jones (D) runs for a full term of six years.

Republicans won the majority in 2014 and currently have a 53-47 margin in the Senate. If Democrats win the White House, they would need a net gain of just three seats to control the House, as the vice president could break a 50-50 bond. They would need a net gain of four seats to have a simple majority right away.

Republicans have signaled growing alarm about their chances of holding on to the majority amid very negative polls for President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocrat calls on White House to take back ambassador to Belarus nominated TikTok to collect data from mobile devices to track Android users: Peterson report wins Minnesota House primarily in crucial swing district MORE and several GOP candidates in key races. Adding further uncertainty to the November election are the spread of the coronavirus and a rocky economy with tens of millions of Americans unemployed.

Republicans knew for a while last week when Rep. Roger Marshall defeated former gubernatorial nominee Kris Kobach for the Republican Senate nomination in Kansas. Republicans had feared that Kobach’s risking winning the party’s nomination would jeopardize their ability to remain in office, currently held by GOP Sen.’s pension. Pat RobertsCharles (Pat) Patrick RobertsMcConnell warns First Chamber controls ‘could go either way’ in November Davis: The Hall of Shame for GOP Senators Silence over Donald Trump McConnell goes hands-off over relief bill on coronavirus MAY, during the general election.

McConnell, the day after the GOP primary, was not ashamed to celebrate the result, telling reporters at the time that it “turned out really well.”