same things that had led them to embrace trump in the first place. i think the trump example was one of the things that led republican voters to think, we re not going to pay a price if we run inexperienced candidates, if we run candidates who only throw bombs, if we run candidates who are far from the median voter. the poor quality candidates, they were a mixed bag. oz wasn t extreme, but he didn t live in the state, which was sort of a problem. that was pretty big. i think the candidate quality problem, the trump problem and the democracy denial problem were all interrelated. so these candidates who keep saying the 2020 election was stolen, i think it s not just people think that s threatening, i think it s also weird and it s weak. it shows they re not their own people. i think it had tactical implications, more importantly. we can t forget, these were incumbent senators that won. they knew their states, they
by the wayside in nevada, delaware, indiana, missouri. this is why mitch mcconnell was warning well in advance we have a candidate quality problem. we ve seen an intensification of this problem from top to bottom. house and senate candidates, secretary of state candidates and governors and the like. it is what i call the my pillowization of the republican party. we have attracted the more cartoon characters. if somebody speaking at a rally with a president or presidential candidate is best known as a pillow salesman run to high heaven. you will see more cartoon characters trying to make money off of the party become instagram influencers and celebrities more than they are about being serious legislators. there is a reason madison cawthorn lost the primary in north carolina. he said i m not serious. dana: the voters did vote them in, right? they chose them. it wasn t just the endorsement, right? i think i m curious did
and i don t think they re going to. even though places like new hampshire, it s quite likely even though a good candidate in colorado, the reason why, as fundamentals would suggest, they ve got a candidate quality problem. the new hampshire pickup which is possible is a guy named dawn bolduc who is an election-denying lunatic. the reason why the numbers are should be so concerning to democrats because i think swing voters will not vote for these crazy candidates but if turnout collapses among democrats. that s where you get into wave territory and big trouble. and there s no evidence that s going to happen. that s the point i want to make. everyone is pretending as if the early vote numbers don t matter. and that the intensity that we have seen in this cycle up until now doesn t exist and it s there. you mentioned bolduc in new hampshire, what we re seeing from the polls, he could win. that s a possibility. you could see him win in new hampshire. and let s not forget, and i just
part of sarah s argument is that republicans do have an candidate quality problem. and yet, these races are very competitive. which is why i think this gamble that they made with some of these candidates, who are much more fringe, it s questionable, because in a wave environment, these candidates can definitely win. i think we should just be clear about that. it s not like you know, don bolduc, he s until a competitive race because of the environment, not in spite of it. and i think that is a good point. but back to this actually should be an undeniable red wave. and it s not. and the last the ad that mitch mcconnell is closing on in iowa, for chuck grassley, trump is going to iowa for chuck grassley. chuck grassley, we re competitive in iowa, north
and how it fits into the larger picture? i think this is a great example of how republicans are throwing away the senate majority. if we win the senate, it s going to be because we put up mainstream candidates who are talking about mainstream issues, who are appealing to the voters of their state. and the trump lane has taken over and put these extreme candidates in the senate races that, frankly, they shouldn t be able to win in a mid term year like this. mitch mcconnell said it s with him. they have a real candidate quality problem, i think it s very likely to result in democrats keeping the senate. and michael steele, last to you. we are running out of time but to real quick questions. one, why is this race still so close? herschel walker could win! and two, would you have recruited him? hell no! [laughs] no, no! 1000 times, no! no.