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Hill Hallways: Cornyn doesn't sugercoat O'Donnell
Posted: September 14th, 2010 12:28 PM ET

From CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash
Editors note: Watch for more real time dispatches from the hallways on Capitol Hill as CNN's correspondents and producers cover the machinations of Congress. As always, the CNN Political Ticker is your source for up-to-the-minute political news- now even more so.

12:19 p.m. ET – I just ran into NRSC head John Cornyn coming off the elevator. Most Washington Republicans will tell you on background they think the Delaware Senate pick up is gone for them if Christine O'Donnell wins the GOP primary, but they are reluctant to say so on the record.

Cornyn came pretty close.

He said that not only does he have doubts about whether O'Donnell can win in Delaware, but he also admitted that race is the "lynchpin" to any chance of Senate Republicans taking back the majority. He also said if O'Donnell wins, they would have to have a "powwow" about whether to dedicate any money to that race.

First, I asked whether he's worried about O'Donnell's electability.


Cornyn:
"I think its a serious issue. People have been quoting Bill Buckley and saying he is for the most conservative candidate who can get elected, and I think it would be a shame to nominate someone who could not win that seat, and I think that Mike Castle clearly could. I have doubts about his primary opponent."

Is any chance at taking the majority, is that a seat you have to get?

Cornyn:
"Its really a lynchpin. Right now we calculate there are about 13 Senate races that are in play, but you know you start to chip away at them by taking states like Delaware out of play, then our chances of getting there are much lower," he said.

I then asked If O'Donnell wins, are you going to pull your money out of there?

"I think we'll have to have a little powwow," said Cornyn, laughing, as he walked away.


Eric D. Schwerin
Rosemont Seneca Partners, LLC
1010 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Suite 705
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-1880
eschwerin@rosemontseneca.com
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