Republicans are eagerly watching Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters \u2014 who have been a weakness MORE\u2019s (I-Vt.) surge toward the Democratic presidential nomination.<\/p>\n
GOP lawmakers and strategists believe Sanders, who identifies as a democratic socialist, is not only beatable in November but could have a disastrous down-ballot impact for Democrats in key congressional races.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would think that in a lot of those swing states it\u2019s a very complicated factor to have him at the top of the ticket if you\u2019re a down-ballot Democrat running for House or Senate, I would be really concerned,\u201d said Sen. John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneGOP senator to try to reverse requirement that Pentagon remove Confederate names from bases Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names The Hill’s Morning Report – Treasury, Fed urge more spending, lending to ease COVID-19 wreckage MORE (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican.<\/p>\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n
Asked if he thought Sanders\u2019s surge was a \u201cblessing,\u201d Sen. John CornynJohn CornynSenate headed for late night vote amid standoff over lands bill Koch-backed group launches ad campaign to support four vulnerable GOP senators Tim Scott to introduce GOP police reform bill next week MORE (R-Texas), who is up for reelection, called it \u201ca little scary that there would be that much support for an avowed socialist.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt splits the Democratic voters, the people who don\u2019t like President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE very much but when presented with that option might say, \u2018Well I\u2019m not going to vote for a socialist. I\u2019ll vote for President Trump rather than do that,\u2019 \u201d Cornyn said.<\/p>\n
The predictions that a Sanders nomination would be a headache for Democrats comes as he holds a lead in the hunt for delegates while moderates remain torn among several potential alternatives.<\/p>\n
Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioHillicon Valley: Georgia officials launch investigation after election day chaos | Senate report finds Chinese telecom groups operated in US without proper oversight Republican Senators ask FCC to ‘clearly define’ when social media platforms should receive liability protections Trump’s tweet on protester sparks GOP backlash\u00a0 MORE (R-Fla.), in a video taken while he appeared to be driving down a road, said \u201cunless the Democratic establishment steals it from him,\u201d Sanders would be the nominee. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a big deal for America, and I hope people start waking up to that reality,\u201d Rubio added.<\/p>\n
Sanders, who has diversified his base since his failed 2016 White House run, is showing up as a boogeyman for Republicans looking to defeat Democrats up and down the ballot.<\/p>\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n
Steve Guest, the Republican National Committee\u2019s rapid response director, argued on Monday that Sanders\u2019s ideas are a \u201cdanger to America and to our way of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood luck Democrats who may try and distance themselves from Sanders\u2019s praise of communist dictators,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Sanders caused a headache for Florida Democrats on Monday when the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) seized on remarks about Cuba he made the night before on \u201c60 Minutes,\u201d saying that \u201cit\u2019s unfair to simply say everything is bad\u201d just because it is associated with Fidel Castro.<\/p>\n
In two separate email blasts by the NRCC, the group questioned if Florida Reps. Donna ShalalaDonna Edna ShalalaThe sad spectacle of Trump’s enablers The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Former NIC Director Greg Treverton rips US response; WHO warns of ‘immediate second peak’ if countries reopen too quickly Treasury has not disbursed B in airline support: oversight\u00a0panel MORE (D) and Stephanie MurphyStephanie MurphyThe Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Former Rep. Delaney says Trump is spewing venom when he should be leading; Protests roil the nation as fears of new virus outbreaks grow Expanding tax credit for businesses retaining workers gains bipartisan support Congress must fill the leadership void MORE (D) would support a \u201cCastro fanboy.\u201d Both have disavowed Sanders\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes this mean Stephanie Murphy will refuse to support Sanders when he is the nominee? Or will she upset her socialist base instead?\u201d asked Camille Gallo, a spokeswoman for the NRCC.<\/p>\n
A GOP strategist pledged that Republicans would use Sanders as an anchor to pull down Democratic Senate hopefuls.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, Bernie is their front-runner, and socialism doesn\u2019t sell in the Atlanta suburbs, in their Charlotte suburbs and in the Phoenix suburbs,\u201d the GOP strategist said, referring to the Senate races in Georgia, North Carolina and Arizona. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Sanders, who supports free college education and \u201cMedicare for All,\u201d is already being name-dropped in key Senate races as Republicans try to activate their base. While most of the 24 Senate seats the GOP is defending are in safe Republican states, a handful of key toss-up races are expected to make or break the GOP efforts to hold onto the majority.<\/p>\n
Sen. Cory GardnerCory Scott GardnerSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior faces legal scrutiny for keeping controversial acting leaders in office | White House faces suit on order lifting endangered species protections | Lawmakers seek investigation of Park Police after clearing of protesters The Hill’s Campaign Report: Republicans go on attack over calls to ‘defund the police’ MORE (R-Colo.), appearing with Trump at a Colorado rally last week, pledged that Republicans would fight \u201csocialism.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a dangerous thing that happened in 2016. It was the normalization of socialism by Bernie Sanders,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sen. Martha McSallyMartha Elizabeth McSallyGOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police No evidence of unauthorized data transfers by top Chinese drone manufacturer: study Senate Democratic campaign arm launches online hub ahead of November MORE (R-Ariz.) recently called former astronaut Mark Kelly, who is likely to be her Democratic opponent, the \u201cthe 51st vote for all of Bernie\u2019s wildest Soviet-style fantasies.\u201d<\/p>\n
McSally is running for the final two years of the late Sen. John McCainJohn Sidney McCainThe Hill’s Campaign Report: Bad polling data is piling up for Trump Cindy McCain ‘disappointed’ McGrath used image of John McCain in ad attacking McConnell Report that Bush won’t support Trump reelection ‘completely made up,’ spokesman says MORE\u2019s (R) term. Kelly, the husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), has distanced himself from the tag, noting that he\u2019s a \u201ccapitalist.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former Attorney General Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsMcCabe, Rosenstein spar over Russia probe Rosenstein takes fire from Republicans in heated testimony Rosenstein defends Mueller appointment, role on surveillance warrants MORE, who is trying to reclaim his old Senate seat in Alabama, sent out a fundraising blast earlier this month after Sanders won New Hampshire, warning about the spread of \u201csocialism.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know Bernie Sanders well. I confronted his extreme ideas and spending policies for years on the Senate Budget committee where we both served. I went toe to toe many times with him. I was the leading opponent of these extreme ideas on the committee,\u201d he said in the email to supporters.<\/p>\n
Republicans have worked for months to make the 2020 election a referendum on \u201csocialism.\u201d It\u2019s a narrative they think is a good fit for Sanders.<\/p>\n
An ABC News-Washington Post poll found that 31 percent of adults say they would be less likely to support Sanders if he was labeled as a democratic socialist and 38 percent said so when labeled as a socialist.<\/p>\n
Even as Republicans have worked overtime to make Sanders the face of the Democratic Party, there are a slew of warning signs against underestimating the 78-year-old\u2019s potential strength as a general election candidate.<\/p>\n
An ABC News-Washington Post poll found Sanders leading Trump in a potential head-to-head match-up, similar to several of the Democratic candidates.<\/p>\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n
It also found that 30 percent of Democrats or Democratic-leaning voters believe Sanders is the best choice to beat Trump \u2014 the highest percentage for anyone in the still-crowded 2020 primary field.<\/p>\n
Sen. Tim ScottTimothy (Tim) Eugene ScottHouse Republicans hopeful about bipartisan path forward on police reform legislation Rand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill MORE (R-S.C.) warned during an interview with \u201cCBS This Morning\u201d that he thought Sanders is Trump\u2019s most difficult potential opponent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say that the biggest threat to President Trump is President Trump. … If there is a second choice other than himself it would be Bernie Sanders. Bernie Sanders brings that outside game in a similar fashion that President Trump did in 2016,\u201d Scott said Monday.<\/p>\n