Republicans can’t let 2024 go to waste. If they want to win, that means putting pressure on their own, including McConnell.
And this top Republican caused a world of trouble for Mitch McConnell.
The past few months have been a whirlwind for Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
While speaking during a press conference in July, the Senator inexplicably froze and had to be escorted away.
.@LeaderMcConnell was escorted away from Senate Republicans' weekly press conference after appearing to have difficulty speaking.
McConnell began addressing the chamber's annual defense bill before freezing up, staring straight ahead with a blank look on his face for around 20… pic.twitter.com/4fPXfD1gbL
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 26, 2023
And just a few weeks ago, McConnell had a similar health scare where he went into a stroke-like trance while answering questions.
BREAKING NEWS: Sen. Mitch McConnell appearing to have another scary episode in the media gaggle in Covington today. Aides had to step in to help him out and repeat questions. He was eventually lead away. We'll have the full video on @WLWT pic.twitter.com/q9ex5MHxLV
— Hannah Thomas (@HannahPThomas) August 30, 2023
Unsurprisingly, Republicans are worried that Mitch won’t be able to continue his duties effectively due to his recent health scares.
“We were just home for a month in my home state of Missouri. I was asked everywhere I went about Senator McConnell before the most recent incident – and then absolutely afterwards. I mean, everywhere I went.” Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) said to reporters.
Hawley feels as though McConnell will ultimately harm Republicans’ chances in 2024 because of distractions stemming from his health.
“My view is that 2024 is an awfully important election for Republicans; we should have taken back the Senate last year; we didn’t,” the Senator from Missouri said.
“This is our shot to take it back. I just hope we’re going to be focused on that.”
Hawley believes Republicans didn’t meet expectations in the 2022 midterms under Mitch McConnell’s leadership.
And with new arising health battles that McConnell must fight through, there’s little confidence he can lead Republicans to victory in 2024.
Josh Hawley was also asked by reporters if he thought Mitch was the wrong person for the role of Senate minority leader.
“Oh absolutely. That’s why I voted against him in December,” Hawley responded.
McConnell was sold a bill of good health by his doctor after the two incidents where he froze at the podium. The doctor indicated that both incidents were likely caused by dehydration.
But that doesn’t mean people still aren’t worried about the Senator’s physical and mental capabilities. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) even said that it’s “an inadequate explanation to say this is dehydration.”
It seems some Republicans have already made up their mind on wanting to replace Mitch McConnell despite his doctor’s assurances.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
