Republican Governors Association Chairman Haley Barbour on Midterm Elections

Strategic Insights -

As the 2010 midterm elections approach, Republican Governor Haley Barbour has been crisscrossing the country, stumping for Republican candidates and helping to guide the party's strategy. In a recent interview with CNN's John King, Barbour discussed the Republican Party's chances in the upcoming elections and shared his thoughts on the party's priorities in the event of a Republican victory.

Key Takeaways:

  • Barbour predicts that Republicans will win at least 30 governorships, exceeding their current total of 24.
  • He believes that the Republican victories will be a referendum on President Obama's policies, particularly his handling of the economy.
  • Barbour emphasized that Republicans must "earn" the public's trust and work to reduce spending, cut taxes, and bring down deficits.
  • He also expressed support for bipartisan disclosure of campaign contributions, saying that all contributions should be disclosed and that parties and campaigns should have the power to raise and spend money without being limited by special interest groups.
  • Barbour ruled out running for president or returning as chairman of the Republican National Committee, citing his current full-time job as governor of Mississippi.

Statistics:

  • 37 governor's races are considered close, with 23 currently controlled by Republicans.
  • California and Florida are seen as key battlegrounds, with Democrats feeling confident in both states.
  • Republicans have a slight edge in Florida, according to Barbour, but the outcome is still too close to call.
  • The Republican Governors Association has been helping Republican candidates financially, with Barbour serving as chairman.

Sources:

  • CNN "John King, USA" interview with Governor Haley Barbour, November 1, 2010
  • Federal News Service, Inc., Ste. 500, 1000 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 USA (c) 2010. No portion of this transcript may be copied, sold or retransmitted without the written authority of Federal News Service, Inc.