Tuesday's historic victories amounted to a "tsunami" for the Republican Party, but winning the White House in 2016 could be a long shot, said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.
"I think we're going to have to be about perfect," he said at a breakfast with reporters, according to
Time magazine.
"I think we've got a long way to go to be ready for 2016," he said. "Granted, we are excited and proud of where we've come, but I think we've got to be about perfect as a national party to win a national cultural vote in this country. I think the Democrats can be good and win, but we have to be great."
He noted that voter demographics are shifting decidedly in favor of the Democrats, but also highlighted recent GOP successes in reaching minority voters, which will also be an emphasis in 2016.
During his time at the helm, the GOP has made great technological strides in voter targeting, overcoming a disadvantage it faced during President Barack Obama's successful 2008 and 2012 campaigns.
Priebus also said that while the midterms have taken a toll on supporters and donors, he believes they will remain committed given the high stakes.
"They're going to double down on our program because they know that investing in mechanics is the way that we're going to be able to win in 2016," he said, according to Time.
He added that the RNC will be instrumental in securing a victory for any GOP nominee.
"No nominee is going to have $100 million for a data platform, and no nominee is going to have a yearlong field operation. It's going to take the RNC to fill that void, and it's going to be expensive."
Priebus also indicated that the party plans to maintain the presence it established in the battleground states, he said in the Time article.
"We're going to have to be three times bigger than we were in 2014," he said. "I think it's going to take a massive amount of money and a huge paid program in the battleground states, starting immediately."
Priebus said there would be a strong focus on minimizing infighting within the party during the next set of primaries.
"I think that there is a very strong feeling among the grass-roots and among many of our donors that aren't going to put up with Republicans slicing each other apart," he said, according to Time.
"I think there's going to be a high level of disdain for candidates who spend their time trying to destroy other Republicans."
He added, "I will be less concerned about my own reputation and refraining from being vocal … with candidates that go out of their way to simply just kill each other."
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