Veteran political analyst and best-selling author Dick Morris tells Newsmax that Republicans have a huge enthusiasm edge over Democrats as Election Day approaches, and the GOP can win as many as 100 House seats on Nov. 2.
And Republicans’ chances of gaining the 10 seats they need to take control of the Senate hinge on close races in California and Washington, Morris says.
In an exclusive interview with Newsmax.TV, Morris expresses confidence in a strong GOP showing in the midterm elections.
“I think the ground game is overwhelmingly in favor of Republicans,” he says.
“The enthusiasm levels are so much greater among Republicans. And the amateur get-out-the-vote efforts of the tea party people I think will be far, far more effective than the paid professional efforts of the unions [that are backing the Democrats].
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“I think there will be a tremendous grass-roots effort to get out the vote, and there better be because there are so many close races. There are probably 70 House seats that are within three or four points and could go either way, and a vigorous turnout effort is absolutely crucial to that.”
Morris explains why as many as 100 Democrats in the House are vulnerable this year.
“Right now if you take the races that are rated lean Republican or tossup, that are currently represented by Democrats, you have about 73 seats,” he says.
“I think we’re going to win almost all of those races.
“Then with SuperPacUsa.com, we’re targeting another 30 seats that are on the list as lean Democrat, likely Democrat, some that are even on the list as solid Democrat.”
Morris is chief strategist for SuperPacUsa.com, a political action committee supporting GOP candidates.
“We have very heavy spending going on from SuperPacUsa.com over the last week of the campaign in those new districts.”
Morris says SuperPacUsa.com has now reached its goal of raising $3 million and he is hopeful of raising another $1 million this week. “That $4 million is going to sway a goodly portion of the 30 seats we’re targeting,” he says, adding that the PAC can continue spending money through Thursday.
Addressing reports that Democrats are supporting bogus tea party and other third-party candidates in an effort to siphon votes away from Republicans, Morris tells Newsmax: “It’s a desperate attempt.
“In Nevada, there’s a guy who is the so-called tea party candidate and he has a campaign of one person and he has no connection with the tea party movement.
“I hope that voters see through that. And I certainly don’t expect any voters that are well-enough informed to follow Newsmax broadcasts to fall for that.”
The Senate race in California between incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer and challenger Carly Fiorina “is very close," Morris says. "I think that Boxer is a little bit ahead, but I think she is under 50 percent of the vote, and I think that is an election where we’re not going to know the results until two or three days later.”
In Washington State, Democratic incumbent Patty Murray and challenger Dino Rossi are also so close that results won’t be known for perhaps several days after the polls close,” Morris says.
“When a Republican in this environment is running about three points behind the Democrat, and the Democrat is an incumbent who is under 50, I think that is in effect a dead tie, because the undecided always goes against the incumbent. And I think Republicans have a big edge on turnout. That’s my feeling about those two states — we could win them or lose them.”
In Nevada, where a recent poll has Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid trailing Republican Sharron Angle by three percentage points, “I think she’s going to win.”
In Pennsylvania, Republican Pat Toomey will get considerable help from tea party people and defeat Joe Sestak by five or six points, and in Kentucky, Republican Rand Paul will beat Jack Conway by five to seven points, according to Morris.
In West Virginia, Republican John Raese faces Joe Manchin, and “I think Raese is opening up a more significant lead,” Morris says.
“What happened is that Manchin put on a stupid ad where he’s loading a rifle and talking about how he’s pro gun and in favor of repealing parts of Obamacare and how he’ll fight against cap-and-trade. The Republicans put on a wonderful answer. They’re showing Manchin with his gun saying he’s hunting for votes.
“His record is way to the left of what he said. I think that exploded in his face.”
Republican Mark Kirk will hold on to his lead over Alexi Giannoulias in the race for Barack Obama’s old Senate seat in Illinois, Morris opines.
“There currently is a scandal brewing because the FDIC is not releasing its findings about Giannoulias’ bank until a week after the election — a bank they raided because of its loans to mobsters. So I think that’s going to be a solid Republican win.
“When you put all of this together I think we have nine seats we can definitely say we’ve got — Arkansas, Indiana, North Dakota, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colorado, West Virginia, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Then the outcome will hinge primarily on Washington and California, and also possibly on Connecticut where [Republican Linda] McMahon has a shot.”