Bannon on Mitch McConnell's Toxicity: Even Senate GOP Incumbents Will Not Come Near Him 'with a Barge Pole'

Former White House chief strategist and Breitbart News executive chairman Steven K. Bannon told Breitbart News Saturday host Raheem Kassam that Senate Republicans are in “open revolt” against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and that Senate incumbents will not even come close to him “with a barge pole.”

Breitbart News Saturday host Saturday Raheem Kassam and Steve Bannon discussed a recent Politico article that revealed that Senate Republican candidates continue to flee from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Raheem remarked, “Do you think he’s laughing now?”

“There haven’t been people who want Mitch McConnell’s endorsement and Mitch McConnell’s money,” Bannon argued, noting that Senate Republican candidates continue to avoid McConnell’s campaign fundraising.

Corey Stewart, who is running against Sen. Time Kaine (D-VA), said, “The guy’s toxic. There’s no support for him, even among the establishment. He hasn’t been able to pass the president’s agenda.”

Michigan businessman Sandy Pensler told the Detroit News if McConnell manages to pass the president’s agenda, that serves as an accomplishment. However, he added, “Otherwise he shouldn’t be the leader. It’s a results-driven analysis for me. So far he hasn’t gotten it done.”

Andy Surabian, senior advisor to the Great America Alliance, explained, “Why are Republican candidates tweeting out selfies with Steve Bannon, while at the same time doing everything they can to distance themselves from McConnell publicly? Because they know that McConnell is an albatross, not only in GOP primaries, but more importantly in general elections.”

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, who was labeled as Mitch McConnell’s “No. 1 recruit,” refused to endorse McConnell as Leader.

A Hawley spokesman said in October that Hawley “is not willing to tolerate the failure of the D.C. establishment any longer.”

The former White House chief strategist then suggested that McConnell only worked on the president’s agenda when conservatives and nationalist-populists applied pressure on the Majority Leader.

“Mitch McConnell supports President Trump’s agenda when it’s in his own interests,” Bannon added.

Bannon explained, “To work more days to get more things done, to get more judges through, to stop this nonsense with the blue slip fixed, to get the budget passed, and focus on getting taxes done, that all came because pressure was put on him.”

“Those days are over,” Bannon said. “Mitch McConnell is dancing to the president’s tune, he is dancing to the people’s agenda.”

Bannon contended, “If you embrace Mitch McConnell you will lose a Senate seat. That’s why these senators, particularly these incumbents who are in the business of getting reelected, they will not come close to Mitch McConnell, even with a barge pole.”

Bannon concluded, “If you heard the back channels coming from Capitol Hill, coming from the senators who want to cut deals, who want to offload Mitch McConnell, they’re in open revolt out there. McConnell has lost all his stroke.”