They held a debate Monday night between incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Mike Lee and Independent candidate Evan McMullin, who’s won the endorsement of none other than Sen. Mitt Romney. Also in his corner is Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who’s “proud to support my friend Evan McMullin.” Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang is rooting for McMullin, and Fox News’ Juan Williams said to think of McMullin as Luke Skywalker trying to blow up the Death Star, which apparently is a stand-in for the establishment in D.C.
Reuters on Tuesday is saying that McMullin could become a key Senate power broker … once he wins, of course:
How Utah's Evan McMullin could become a key U.S. Senate power broker https://t.co/8KXAkEf5LN pic.twitter.com/ygRUM0RcQE
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 18, 2022
David Morgan and Gram Slattery write:
If U.S. Senate candidate Evan McMullin succeeds in unseating Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah, he could occupy a uniquely powerful role as an independent ready to work with either party in the narrowly divided chamber.
While maverick Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have used their positions in the 50-50 chamber to block parts of President Joe Biden’s agenda, an independent McMullin could wield even more influence if Republicans pick up one — and only one — other seat in the Nov. 8 midterm election.
That would create a Senate with 50 Republicans and 49 Democrats, a scenario in which McMullin could align with either Democrats or Republicans and play an outsized role in determining which party has the majority and which legislative agenda gets to the Senate floor.
If Republicans pick up one, and only one, seat in November and McMullin defeats Lee, who knows what would happen? McMullin’s stance on Roe v. Wade has “evolved,” for example, because of Principles™.
Evan McMullin, now trying to unseat Mike Lee, was staunchly anti-abortion in 2016. Yet he tells @mehdirhasan he now opposes overturning Roe v. Wade: “I do not think that that is the way for the country to move forward on this issue.” pic.twitter.com/52jQtuQ8Li
— The Mehdi Hasan Show (@MehdiHasanShow) May 9, 2022
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Voting for McMullin is like a box of chocolates … you never know what you’re going to get.
— Cattorious 🇮🇱🇺🇸 (Texas Flag Gif) (@Cattorious) October 18, 2022
That’s a lot of words for a guy who’s gonna lose by 15
— Going Concern (@GoingConcern7) October 18, 2022
— 7 (@RodBuskas) October 18, 2022
— mostlypeacefulfalcon (@HarveyBarker5) October 18, 2022
— Arthur Fortune (@CBove1) October 18, 2022
In three weeks, after perennial loser McMuffin gets trounced by Sen. Lee, he will announce his next political fail. A run for the WH in '24.
— Chris Moran🍊 (@ChrisMo2525) October 18, 2022
And rake in sweet cash donations
— policy poo (@stitchnstab) October 18, 2022
Dream on hacks.
— Jimmy B 🇺🇸 🎃 (@MOTT7) October 18, 2022
It's interesting that the prospect of McMullin being the fulcrum of power in the Senate is cast in such a positive light — after 2 years of Manchin being vilified for it.
— SanchoPanzy (@SanchoPanzy) October 18, 2022
We thought the same thing; suddenly Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are deserving of the “maverick” label.
Egg Mcmuffin isn't winning in Utah
— Shawn🇺🇸 (@big_killa_) October 18, 2022
Good God, quit trying to make fetch happen.
— Spooky Bill Lumbergh (@Jeff_Weimer) October 18, 2022
Is @Reuters on McMullin's campaign payroll? 🤔
— Enough is Enough (@SilverLining365) October 18, 2022
Put down the bong, Reuters.
— Dr. J.J. by the Bay (@flagg_colonel) October 18, 2022
Is it because he owes so many people that he gets used as a dark money slush fund, or is it because he has no principles and can therefore be bought by one side or another?
— Orb (@InfiniteOrb) October 18, 2022
He's a slimeball.
— mallen2010 (@mallen_2010) October 18, 2022
Yes, but Lee is a MAGA extremist and a danger to democracy itself.
Related:
Mollie Hemingway puts Mitt Romney on notice over 'Democrat-supported' Evan McMullin's evolved stance on overturning Roe v. Wade https://t.co/Fr1m3KZe7x
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 4, 2022
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