New analysis explains why the political war between McConnell and Scott is 'going the distance.'

15 February 2023

The level of contention between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) does not appear to be waning anytime soon and now a new analysis is diving a bit deeper into their ongoing political feud to explain why.

"Most of Congress’ intraparty feuds are fleeting, especially when margins of control are as close as they are in the House and Senate these days," Politico's Burgess Everett explained. "Any standoff that lasts longer than a few days risks ceding power to the other party."

He also noted, "But Scott and McConnell’s split is going the distance."

While it is common for colleagues to have personality clashes that contribute to their differences, Everett argues that's not the case for McConnell and Scott.

According to Everett, the issues are a bit deeper than that and some of the contention involves McConnell opposed, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

"Scott’s challenge of McConnell for leader has factionalized the GOP in a manner not seen since Cruz set the table to run for president a decade ago by taking on McConnell every chance he had," he wrote.

Everett added, "McConnell may have easily dispatched Scott — the final tally was 37-10 — but the fact that McConnell now knows 10 Republican senators were ready to oust him has made his job more complicated."

The latest analysis comes just days after McConnell and Scott's previous clash over Medicare and Social Security. McConnell publicly condemned Scott's proposed piece of legislation which he believes would "sunset" both programs. During a recent radio interview, McConnell expressed concern and disapproval.

“Unfortunately, that was the Scott plan, that’s not a Republican plan,” he said at the time. “So it’s clearly the Rick Scott plan, it is not the Republican plan. And that’s the view of the Speaker of the House as well.”

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