'Ill-fated effort': McConnell was 'furious' at Rick Scott's 2022 leader bid, book says

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was privately infuriated astatine then-National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Rick Scott's last-minute leaderhip situation successful 2022, calling it an effort to displacement attraction from the Florida Republican's "poor job" moving the Senate GOP run arm, according to a forthcoming biography.

"McConnell was furious with Scott," wrote Michael Tackett, lawman Washington bureau main of the Associated Press successful the publication "The Price of Power."

"He's aggravated astir it due to the fact that since he's been person he's ever had bid and power of the speech during a midterm, and this changed that," erstwhile McConnell Chief of Staff Josh Holmes said successful the biography.

The person said astatine the time, according to the book, "I don't deliberation Rick makes a precise bully victim." 

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McConnell was reportedly ‘furious’ erstwhile Scott challenged his re-election arsenic leader. (Reuters)

"I deliberation helium did a mediocre occupation of moving the [Senate campaign] committee. His program was utilized by the Democrats against our candidates arsenic precocious arsenic the past play [before the election.] He promoted the fabrication that we were successful the mediate of a large expanse erstwhile determination was nary tangible grounds of it," McConnell reportedly added. 

He referenced an 11-point docket "to Rescue America" that Scott released portion chairing the NRSC, the publication said. The program was unveiled aft McConnell, the longtime Republican leader, had dismissed efforts to enactment retired specified an docket up of the midterms, considering it to beryllium a mistake. 

According to the biography, previewed by Fox News Digital, McConnell believed himself to person been close astir this and thought Scott's program was "laughably bad." 

The person specifically lamented parts of Scott's program stating that each Americans should wage immoderate grade of income tax, and "All national authorities sunsets successful 5 years. If a instrumentality is worthy keeping, Congress tin walk it again." 

These were things McConnell expected Democrats to prehend on, particularly arsenic the second could beryllium understood arsenic endangering Social Security and Medicare. 

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McConnell is the longest-serving enactment person successful Senate history. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

According to the forthcoming book, McConnell stated that Scott's "campaign against maine was immoderate benignant of ill-fated effort to crook the attraction distant from him and onto idiosyncratic else" erstwhile Republicans did not instrumentality backmost the Senate bulk successful the midterms. 

At the time, the person reportedly said, "We had a bully accidental to sermon the differences, radical had an accidental to perceive to some candidates, and I’m beauteous arrogant of 37 to 10," successful notation to the ballot totals successful the concealed ballot. 

The Kentucky Republican reportedly wasn't offended by the situation from Scott. In fact, helium took large pleasance successful the idiosyncratic win, according to the book. 

"McConnell relished the triumph similar his puerility pummeling of Dicky McGrew," wrote Tackett. Tackett said that McGrew was a "friend and foe" of young McConnell, who picked connected him until his begetter demanded helium face his bully. The now-Republican person fist-fought McGrew arsenic a child, contempt the second being bigger and stronger, the publication said.

His heavy backstage enjoyment of triumphing implicit Scott's situation exemplified a "competitive fire" noted successful the biography that "could sometimes flare hotter erstwhile helium was confronting Republicans who opposed him than erstwhile helium was tangling with Democrats." 

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Scott sought to instrumentality implicit arsenic person successful 2022. (Alex Wong)

McConnell gave this greater credence successful caller remarks successful Kentucky during the legislature recess. Explaining that "I'm inactive a accepted Republican: pro-trade, debased taxes, pro-business," helium told the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, "there are immoderate connected my broadside present who don't dependable that way."

"I'm going to beryllium arguing much with them astir apt than the Democrats. Again, depending upon however the predetermination comes out."

In a connection to Fox News Digital, Scott responded to McConnell's revealed comments astir himself, saying, "While Leader McConnell and I person cardinal disagreements, I americium shocked that helium would onslaught a chap Republican legislator and the Republican nominee for president conscionable 2 weeks retired from an election."

Scott was referring to McConnell's respective past candid criticisms of erstwhile President Donald Trump outlined successful the book.

While Trump is competing for the presidency against Vice President Kamala Harris, Scott is besides seeking re-election successful Florida.

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Senators John Cornyn, John Thune and Rick Scott are contenders successful the contention to win Mitch McConnell arsenic leader. (Getty Images)

"I judge we should beryllium talking astir solutions, helium doesn’t," Scott continued. "I enactment Donald Trump and his enactment to fundamentally alteration the mode Washington operates, helium doesn’t. I judge we should enactment the candidates Republican voters choose, helium doesn’t."

"With astir $36 trillion successful debt, an unfastened confederate border, historical inflation, and a satellite connected fire, I cognize we request melodramatic change, and helium doesn’t."

As for McConnell's remarks astir Trump elaborate successful the book, helium said successful a statement, "Whatever I whitethorn person said astir President Trump pales successful examination to what JD Vance, Lindsey Graham, and others person said astir him, but we are each connected the aforesaid squad now." 

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The leader, who is the longest-serving enactment caput successful Senate history, notably announced successful February that helium would not beryllium seeking to pb the GOP league again, opening up the accidental for the archetypal clip successful years. 

Earlier this year, Scott launched different leader bid. In 2022, helium received 10 votes connected the concealed ballot aft announcing a run against McConnell astatine the past minute. 

Both Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, person besides thrown their hats successful the race.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 run trail, exclusive interviews and much astatine our Fox News Digital predetermination hub.