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Boehner sees coattails for GOP in McCain bid

By Sean Lengell
April 8, 2008

House Minority Leader John A. Boehner says Republican voters are rallying around the party's presumptive presidential nominee despite his liberal leanings. (Associated Press)

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House Minority Leader John A. Boehner says Sen. John McCain's presidential bid provides long coattails for his party to regain seats in traditionally conservative districts that Republicans lost in 2006.

While many conservative Republicans view Mr. McCain as too liberal to carry the mantle of the party's national leader, Mr. Boehner says Republican voters increasingly are rallying around the Arizona senator.

"When I talk to my members, and you look at the polling and you get out on the road and listen to people, there's no question McCain is bringing all the Republicans together, and frankly a big chunk of independents," Mr. Boehner told a gathering of journalists last week.

"I'm not here suggesting to you that it will be an easy walk back for us to earn our majority. I understand the difficulty, but I am here to suggest to you that it's going to be a far better Republican year than most people realize."

The Ohio Republican says Mr. McCain's presence on the party ticket in November will particularly help mobilize the conservative electorate in the 61 Democrat-held House seats in districts that voted for President Bush in 2004.

"I believe John McCain will win more than 61 Democrat-held [House] seats" nationwide, Mr. Boehner said.

Yet recapturing even a few lost seats will be an uphill struggle for House Republicans, as they face significant fundraising woes and a slew of retirements in the chamber.

Democrats say Mr. Boehner's optimism for chipping away at their 233-198 majority in the House is misguided.

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