Senate Republicans Boasted Of An Ultra-Favorable Map. Now The Pressure Is On.

Sen. Mitch McConnell listens as Sen. Steve Daines speaks during a media availability on Capitol Hill. “This is the best opportunity in a generation to maximize Republican Senate seats,” said one GOP strategist, requesting anonymity to speak frankly about the party’s faltering chances. “They’re leaving seats on the table, and it’s going to hurt GOP chances of holding the Senate for years to come.” Understanding why merely winning the Senate — objectively the goal of any campaign committee — could be a disappointing result for Republicans requires zooming out to look at the big picture of American politics: There are simply more solidly red states than there are solidly blue states. “Senate Republicans’ bad candidates and flawed recruiting strategy are hurting their prospects across the entire Senate map,” said David Bergstein, a spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “It turns out the NRSC’s plan to tap a bunch of scandal-ridden, carpetbagging liars isn’t panning out how they hoped.” Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, a former chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said Republicans simply won’t be able to recruit quality candidates in many states until after Trump leaves the scene.