Senate Republicans are signaling they are open to cutting deals with Democratic presidential nominee Joe BidenJoe BidenCoons beats back progressive Senate primary challenger in Delaware Biden courts veterans amid fallout from Trump military controversies Biden campaign manager touts ‘multiple pathways’ to victory MORE if he wins the White House in November.
GOP senators — adding the caveat that they are supportive of President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump says he doesn’t think he could’ve done more to stop virus spread Conservative activist Lauren Witzke wins GOP Senate primary in Delaware Trump defends claim coronavirus will disappear, citing ‘herd mentality’ MORE — say there is room for agreement with a Biden administration, particularly on areas like trade or immigration, if they hold on to the Senate majority in November.
Sen. John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneGOP ramps up attacks on Democrats over talk of nixing filibuster On The Money: Pelosi says House will stay in session until stimulus deal is reached | GOP short of votes on Trump’s controversial Fed pick | WTO rules Trump tariffs on Chinese goods illegal GOP short of votes on Trump’s controversial Fed pick MORE (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican, noted that typically new administrations get a honeymoon period and a divided government could force compromises.
“There would be opportunities. … The one thing about having a divided government, it forces people to come together and some of the best and biggest accomplishments in our history have been accomplished during a time of divided government,” Thune said.
One GOP senator predicted that a Republican-controlled Senate could be beneficial to Biden because it would give him a buffer from progressives in his party who, if Democrats controlled both chambers, would likely try to drive him to the left.
“So he’s not constantly fighting ‘Why can’t we go one step further?’ on all the stuff they’ll want to do. The best thing that could happen to Joe Biden would be if there was a Republican Senate,” the senator said.
The pledge to work with Biden comes as he’s led Trump in a steady stream of recent polls by an average of 6.2 percentage points, according to RealClearPolitics. The battle for the Senate remains a toss-up, according to political handicappers, keeping open the prospect of a divided government in 2021.
Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamGOP senators say coronavirus deal dead until after election Tucker Carlson accuses Lindsey Graham of convincing Trump to talk to Woodward Trump courts Florida voters with moratorium on offshore drilling MORE (R-S.C.) said he would be willing to try to help Biden cut legislative deals, though he questioned if Democrats, who are expected to keep control of the House, would go along.
“It’s hard to project what the attitudes would be in the House, but I would try to help him,” Graham said.
Sen. Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyTrump walks back aluminum tariffs on Canada Trump order on drug prices faces long road to finish line GOP chairman to release interim report on Biden probe ‘in about a week’ MORE (R-Iowa), who would chair the Senate Judiciary Committee if Republicans hold on to the majority, pointed to energy, agriculture and trade as areas where he thought the two parties could reach agreements. Grassley served for decades with Biden in the Senate, including both working on the Judiciary Committee.
“I would imagine on the next farm bill,” Grassley said. “I imagine that Biden will pursue a U.K. free trade agreement, maybe some other free trade agreements. … If he’s for TPA [trade promotion authority] we could surely work together on that.”
Biden, who left the Senate in 2009 to be former President Obama’s vice president, has deep ties with some members of the Republican caucus, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP ramps up attacks on Democrats over talk of nixing…
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