WASHINGTON (AP) – Republican senators rallied around Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a day after he stopped his remarks, appeared disoriented and briefly left his own press conference.
Months ago, McConnell suffered a fall that led to a concussion.
Republican senators expressed their concerns, but also relayed that McConnell appears well.
“He gave a speech this morning. He voted last night,” Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said Thursday. “So we should, we should find out fairly soon what happened and how serious it is. But I don’t have to tell you, Mitch is also, as an individual, a pretty private guy. So we’ll see.”
“You know, I talked to Mitch last night. He seemed strong and alert. Obviously, what happened was disturbing. Everyone that watched that was concerned. But, but listen, Mitch is, Mitch is strong. He’s stubborn as a mule,” said Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.
Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas said he was concerned after what he saw Wednesday but voiced his support for the majority leader.
“He said that he got a little overheated, a little dehydrated. That’s what it looks like to me. I can tell you, he’s got a strong, strong voice in our conference. He’s providing steady leadership. And I think he’s doing a great job as leader,” Marshall said.
Freshman Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming said she has confidence in McConnell’s leadership.
“At lunch yesterday, he spoke. He was completely on his game using numbers that were pulled out of his head and he was completely with it. So I don’t know what precipitated the freeze, but he’ll be careful to evaluate his own capabilities,” she said.
First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell became the longest-serving Senate party leader in history in January. He was easily reelected to his leadership post that same month, despite a challenge from Florida Sen. Rick Scott.
