White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain claimed during a recent television appearance that the midterm elections had been not just good, but record-breaking for President Joe Biden — but former White House reporter Jim Stinson begged to differ.
Klain, speaking with MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, falsely claimed that Biden was the first president since John F. Kennedy to hold Senate seats and “potentially go up one senate seat” in a midterm election.
WATCH:
White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain claims that "no president since JFK has held senate seats and potentially go up one senate seat" in a midterm.
In 2018, Republicans increased their senate majority by 2 seats under President Trump. pic.twitter.com/rjadi7OcBt
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 15, 2022
While Stinson agreed that Kennedy’s midterms were an unqualified success, he noted that several other presidents had seen good midterm results since — and better results than Biden could see even if Democrats are successful in the upcoming Georgia run-off between incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and challenger Herschel Walker.
“THREAD. Ron Klain @WHCOS tells some remarkable lies. On @Lawrence (a gullible guy) Monday night, Klain said “no president … since John F. Kennedy … (has held on to) Senate seats and potentially even (went) up one Senate seat.” This is untrue; @JonKarl also said this,” he began.
The best MIDTERM performance on the Senate side by a party holding the White House since 1960 was:
1) 1962. Kennedy. Dems pick up 4 seats despite midterm.
2) 2002. Bush. Despite recession, GOP picks up 2 seats and control of Senate.So .. 2022 yet, @MSNBC? No. (2)
— Jim Stinson (@jimstinson) November 15, 2022
“The best MIDTERM performance on the Senate side by a party holding the White House since 1960 was: 1) 1962. Kennedy. Dems pick up 4 seats despite midterm. 2) 2002. Bush. Despite recession, GOP picks up 2 seats and control of Senate. So .. 2022 yet, @MSNBC? No,” he continued.
Stinson went on to note that the 2018 midterms under former President Donald Trump effectively tied with the 2002 George W. Bush pickups for the second best with two net gains, and that Democrats — even with a win in Georgia — could only potentially gain one.
So two Republicans presidents since JFK (Bush 2 and Trump) have had better midterms than @JoeBiden could possibly have in the Senate elections. At best, Dems could pick up 1. But that's not even unusual since 1962. (4)
— Jim Stinson (@jimstinson) November 15, 2022
“So two Republicans presidents since JFK (Bush 2 and Trump) have had better midterms than @JoeBiden could possibly have in the Senate elections. At best, Dems could pick up 1,” he said.
Stinson went on to detail several other midterms since Kennedy, noting that even former President Richard Nixon had seen a net gain of one in the senate in 1970.
Then there's 1998. Biden and Dems in 2022 could tie 1998 depending on who wins Georgia. In '98, the Republicans held the majority. A troubled Bill Clinton (D) held the White House.
Neither party won any new seats. Net gain: zero. It was seen as defeat for GOP. (6)
— Jim Stinson (@jimstinson) November 15, 2022
If the Democrats lose in Georgia, Stinson added, the Biden administration could tie with the results handed to former President Bill Clinton in 1998. “In ’98, the Republicans held the majority. A troubled Bill Clinton (D) held the White House. Neither party won any new seats. Net gain: zero. It was seen as defeat for GOP,” he said.
“There is just no way for Joe Biden, Ron Klain (who @Lawrence said was the most successful @WHCOS since JFK — lol) and the Dems to spin the Senate wins. They picked up one at best. Bush 2 and Trump did better,” he concluded.