Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) continues to be concerned about Donald Trump’s chances in November, given the GOP nominee’s inability to stick to a script and his meager fundraising haul in May.
“It’s no secret that he’s struggling. As you and I are talking today, we just saw his latest financial report and there’s not much money in there. He’s earned the nomination, but in order to be elected president, he needs to pivot and start acting like — presidential,” McConnell said in a Friday episode of GOP consultant Ben Mathis’ podcast, KickAss Politics, according to audio highlighted by Buzzfeed News.
According to FEC filings, Trump raised $3.1 million in May and had just $1.3 million cash-on-hand, whereas Hillary Clinton raised $26.4 million in May and has $42.5 million cash-on-hand
McConnell also lamented that Trump doesn’t like to use a script in his public appearances, something the majority leader has complained about before.
“For example, there’s nothing wrong with using a script, most candidates for president use a script. It’s how you remember everything you want to say,” McConnell said on the KickAss Politics podcast. “I think just kind of going from rally to rally and winging it may have worked in the primary but it’s not going work in the general.”
“I’ve endorsed him because he’s earned the nomination, but he needs to start acting like a serious candidate for president if he wants to win the election,” he added.
McConnell said that he hasn’t yet seen from Trump the “major operation” necessary to win the presidency.
“It requires really kind of thinking through what you’re going to say, because he’s made a number of very significant gaffes that have had him moving down in the polls,” he said. “Look, I want him to change and I want him to win, because I know what Hillary Clinton will do, four more years just like the last eight. “
