Cornyn Optimistic But Wants RNC Help

By Reid Wilson

NRSC chair John Cornyn says his party is poised to make big gains in Senate elections next year, but that the party will be realistic in determining how to spread around its limited financial resources.

"We're not in the business of funding landslides, nor funding lost causes," he said in an interview Wednesday. "There's only so much a committee can do, the candidates have to carry the lion's share of the load. They have to run a good political operation, they have to raise money, and what we can come in and do in those races that are within the margin, help out, and we will."

Cornyn pointed to the '08 cycle, during which GOPers were vastly outspend by Dems and when the party had trouble recruiting, putting the GOP on defense in all but LA and eventually giving Dems a 59-vote majority in the Senate.

"What they were able to do is pool their resources and carpet bomb our candidates in places like Minnesota and Oregon and elsewhere. They're not going to be able to do that this year because we've got so many good candidates running in so many states," Cornyn added. He predicted the committee would end the year having raised $40M, significantly higher than the $31.8M raised by the end of '07.

Still, GOP strategists say they will need help from the RNC to fill in fundraising gaps. Cornyn said he had not had specific discussions with RNC chair Michael Steele about the national party offering money, but that the RNC will have its priorities right when Election Day nears.

"Obviously, in 2010, the vast majority of the action is going to be in Congress -- the House races and the Senate races. There are obviously governor's races and other important races around the country. But I think as far as the RNC's concerned, it's going to be all about Congress," Cornyn said. "The national party's historically worked closely with both the Congressional committee and the Senate committee, and we trust that will continue."

With a generic ballot question favoring the GOP for the first time in several election cycles, Cornyn said he is optimistic for a good year for his party.

"The generic ballot is sort of the question that counts," he said. "So there's a lot of hope there. Having said that, I think what people are reacting to what they see coming out of Washington and demonstrating their fear, and they realize that unchecked power is a bad thing, so they've created an opportunity for us that we haven't had to get our message out and talk about our alternative solutions."

Still, a slight lead in the generic ballot does not mean the GOP's brand, so tarnished over the past decade, has been healed. Cornyn acknowledged that there is more work to do to rebuild his party's image.

"I'm not of the opinion that people have all the sudden fallen in love with Republicans, but I do think we have an opportunity, and they're listening," Cornyn said.

But before they get to Election Day, Cornyn acknowledged that many of the candidates who appear to be the strongest candidates will face primaries this year. The NRSC has come under fire for appearing to support some over others, though Cornyn pledged to open his committee to all comers. Plus, he said, primaries are good things.

"If there's any lesson that people should have learned about New York 23, it's that when you have closed primaries and a closed-door selection process, people are going to find a way to express their will," Cornyn said. "I think the answer to all that is contested, open primaries, and our goal of course is to, hopefully the Republican nominee, whoever that is, will not be bloodied and broke at the end of the process, because ultimately the goal is to win the general election. I think through that open primary process, all that will be resolved in a satisfactory way."

"I think what we saw in Virginia is that the politics of addition work a whole lot better than the politics of subtraction," he added, taking note of Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell's (R) surprisingly big win in Nov. "We need to obviously grow a governing majority. You can elect conservative candidates, and we will, but you have to talk about things people want to talk about, which are jobs, the economy, spending and debt."

Still, Dems remain hopeful, given the several GOP retirements and some bloody primaries in key states.

"We are encouraged by 3 factors. First, the Republican retirements creating open seat pick-up opportunities in 4 key states. Second, the bloodletting Republican primaries in nearly every competitive race moving so-called moderate candidates to the right. Third, the ongoing Republican strategy of wanting to turn back to the old ways of Washington, including the George Bush economic policies and doing nothing to address the rising costs of health care," said DSCC spokesman Eric Schultz.

But Cornyn may not be done with those primaries just yet. Though the New Year is just weeks away, Cornyn pledged not to stop recruiting in several key states.

"We're talking to a number of other potential candidates," Cornyn said. "In fact, the great thing about a change political environment is that people are calling us, people we've never heard of before. So we're not going to give up on our recruiting efforts in each place that there's a Senate race in 2010 until the filing deadline occurs."

Rumors have coursed through DC in recent weeks that perhaps ND Gov. John Hoeven (R) would run against Sen. Byron Dorgan (D); both are popular, and in this political climate a battle between the two would instantly become one of the most contested races in the country. Cornyn refused to discuss any conversations he has had with Hoeven or any potential candidate.