NRSC Chairman Tim Scott Predicts Republican Wins in Maine, Iowa, Ohio, Alaska and Texas, and Says Michigan, New Hampshire and Minnesota Are in Play
In a Breitbart News Saturday interview, the Senate Republicans' campaign chief says GOP voters only need to turn out as they do when Trump is on the ballot. These are his forecasts, not results.
Sen. Tim Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told Breitbart News Saturday that Republicans will hold the Senate if their voters show up, and he named the races he expects to win.
His pitch. "We don't need a miracle. We're not looking for the Hail Mary," Scott said. "We just need Republican voters to do what we do when President Trump is on the ballot." Republicans hold the Senate 53 to 47. Breitbart notes Democrats need four pickups and must hold every seat they have.
The race calls. Scott said "winning in Maine is a must" and predicted Sen. Susan Collins will beat Democrat Troy Jackson. He called Rep. Ashley Hinson "the bright star" in Iowa against Josh Turek and said Sen. Jon Husted is "closing in very strong" in Ohio against Sherrod Brown. In Alaska he called the alleged scheme to put a second Dan Sullivan on the ballot "a felony." The allegation is unproven and Mary Peltola's campaign denies involvement. In Texas he predicted Ken Paxton will beat James Talarico. He said North Carolina and Georgia are "within striking distance" and that Republicans will hold Kansas, Nebraska and South Carolina.
Reaching for Democratic seats. Scott said Republicans have a chance to pick up Michigan, New Hampshire and Minnesota. In Michigan he attacked Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed and made claims about El-Sayed's family that Breitbart relays without independent support. In Minnesota he cited "the fraud in Minnesota" and said GOP nominee Michelle Tafoya could beat Democrat Peggy Flanagan.
What to keep in mind. This is the chairman of the party committee forecasting his own side. Public polling we have covered, including the final Times/Siena survey, shows Democrats ahead in several of these races. The interview is a turnout message, and Breitbart did not publish a transcript with the full context of each claim.