John Boehner Cautions GOP Against Overconfidence in Midterm Elections
Tom Diemer
Correspondent
Posted:
08/31/10
With confidence growing almost daily in Republican ranks, House Minority Leader John Boehner tried to tamp down expectations Monday, saying his party still faced an "uphill climb" in the battle to regain control of the House of Representatives.
On Fox News' Sean Hannity show, the Ohio congressman offered measure optimism about the November midterm elections. "We've got real opportunity," he said. ". . . I can tell that the American people want change, and they want it now."
But with a Gallup poll showing the GOP with a 10-point advantage on a generic congressional ballot, he also cautioned that "all the polls don't win elections," The Hill newspaper reported. Republicans would have to win 39 seats to turn the advantage their way in the House. In April, Boehner seemed to suggest the GOP could win as many as 100 seats in November -- at least that many were in play, he said.
Boehner planned a major foreign policy speech on Tuesday -- the same day President Obama addresses the nation on Iraq -- in Milwaukee, where he'll speak at the American Legion national convention.
On Fox News' Sean Hannity show, the Ohio congressman offered measure optimism about the November midterm elections. "We've got real opportunity," he said. ". . . I can tell that the American people want change, and they want it now."
But with a Gallup poll showing the GOP with a 10-point advantage on a generic congressional ballot, he also cautioned that "all the polls don't win elections," The Hill newspaper reported. Republicans would have to win 39 seats to turn the advantage their way in the House. In April, Boehner seemed to suggest the GOP could win as many as 100 seats in November -- at least that many were in play, he said.
Boehner planned a major foreign policy speech on Tuesday -- the same day President Obama addresses the nation on Iraq -- in Milwaukee, where he'll speak at the American Legion national convention.