McConnell: Bannon’s ‘Political Genius’ Helped Lose Alabama Race

During his final press conference of the year, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) took a shot at Steve Bannon, the former Trump strategist who has positioned himself as a kingmaker for Republican candidates running against the so-called “establishment.” Asked if he blamed Bannon for Democratic candidate Doug Jones’ victory in Alabama’s special U.S. Senate election, McConnell took the opportunity to mock the supposed strategizing of the Breitbart chief. “Well, let me just say this: the political genius on display throwing away a seat in the reddest state in America is hard to ignore,” McConnell said. The Senate majority leader shied away from publicly endorsing the Republican candidate Roy Moore, an accused pedophile, while Bannon and Trump openly endorsed him even after a litany of sexual-misconduct allegations emerged.