(CNN) – Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy is discounting rumors that his party is seeking to recruit current conservative-leaning House Democrats to their side of the isle.
“I've always heard those rumors, but I don't see that being the case,” McCarthy told CNN’s Candy Crowley on State of The Union. “And it's - it's a little more difficult when you look at the Democratic make-up of Congress today. It's much more liberal than it's ever been.”
Still, a string of conservative-leaning Democrats -– many of whom are members of the so-called “Blue Dog” coalition -– have run against their party this election season. That's led to speculation that some Democrats may determine their fate is safer if they have an “R” next to their name.
But McCarthy said voters are more upset with the Washington establishment than either party.
“I don't think the American public is looking to more members of Congress to stay in Congress,” he said. “They're looking for people across the country to actually change Washington.”
Of course, McCarthy himself is a member of Congress, so does that mean his own job could be in trouble?
“I’ve only been there four years, from one standpoint.” He said. “And I'm an individual that was running against Republicans and Democrats when I went to get into office."
Watch State of the Union with Candy Crowley Sundays at 9am ET. For the latest from State of the Union click here.
From CNN Politics
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I didn’t hear this story this first time , voters (specially independents) trust conservative democrats than republicans
The tea baggers and billionaires who run the GOP don't want anyone in their idiotic party who is not a right wingnut.
If a politician's mouth is moving, he's lying.
I miss today morning watching repeat telecast now
He didn’t get the questions or he is avoiding the questions form Candy Crowely
No agenda , No plan so no vote for republicans
What the GOP is really saying, if only we could win over some of these Democrats we could rid ourselves of the Tea Party.
It's actually not true that congress is more liberal today than ever. However it is pretty obvious that the conservatives have moved father right...they are on the brink of the George Wallace days.
You know, once Hitler was in power, you could generally tell what he was going to do: it was whatever he denied he was going to do. Probably we should apply the same logic here. Given the propensity of the GOTea to make threats and that of the Blue Dogs to wet their britches whenever they hear one, I don't doubt they'll defect in droves if Republicans win a majority, either.