John Boehner: GOP Can Gain House Seats, Too

House Speaker John Boehner is not only hopeful that his Republican Party can take control of the Senate in November, he also believes they can add to their majority in the House.

"We can gain seats in this election. And we've got prospects all over the country," Boehner said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

Boehner has been politicking for House candidates in New Hampshire, New York and Maine, an area that breeds more moderate Republicans less in line with the conservative tea party that has been leading the debate.

"We've got great candidates here in the Northeast," Boehner told ABC. "I don't think you can be a national party if you just ignore one part of the country."

Turning to the battle against the Islamic State (ISIS), Boehner repeated his assertion that "someone's boots have to be on the ground." President Barack Obama has vowed there will be no American ground troops, but Boehner said that if no one else steps up, the U.S. may be forced to do so.

"We have no choice," he said. "These are barbarians. They intend to kill us. And if we don't destroy them first we're going to pay the price."

He said he would be willing to call the House back into session to hold a vote to authorize ground troops if Obama sends Congress a request. He denied reports that he warned the White House not to make the request because a vote now would splinter both parties and might not pass.

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