Even DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján disagrees with Pelosi’s House prediction

You might remember Nancy Pelosi’s desperate attempt to change the conversation earlier this month, with her prediction that Democrats are now in a position to retake the House majority. Well apparently the DCCC didn’t get the memo.

Yesterday, DCCC Chairman, and deer in the headlights, Ben Ray Luján appeared on Bloomberg Politics. Predictably, the first question he was asked was “What odds do you give right now on the possibility of the Democrats retaking control of the House.” Luján refused to entertain the question, saying it’s not his job to make predictions and spewing other vague campaign clichés.

Luján looked very proud of himself for successfully avoiding the question.

But host John Heilemann pressed on, pointing out that he wasn’t asking for a prediction, just a sense of how likely a Democrat takeover of the House is. Luján quickly realized he was not going to escape the question so easily.

But Luján couldn’t bring himself to echo former Speaker Pelosi’s bold prediction that the House was within reach, instead sputtering something about a volatile environment, and saying “I don’t even know that I could describe it as likely or unlikely.” Perhaps Luján understands that he’s going to have some explaining to do in November for the DCCC’s utter failure at recruitment in districts across the country, and he doesn’t want to raise expectations?

Whatever Luján’s reason for refusing to go along with Pelosi, it sure makes for a great video! Click HERE to watch!

NRCC Comment: “Even DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján realizes that House Democrats have squandered what little chance they had of retaking the House in 2016. The DCCC’s failure to recruit credible candidates in districts across the country have ensured that despite her bold predictions, Nancy Pelosi will remain Minority Leader in the next Congress.” – NRCC Spokesman Bob Salera

BACKGROUND – Pelosi’s Bold Claims on Retaking the House:

(2010) Politico: The rise and fall of Nancy Pelosi

Pelosi was defiant into the final hours, telling reporters election night before the polls closed that “We’re on pace to maintain the majority in the House of Representatives.”

(2010)“Pelosi: Democrats Expect to Keep House Majority, ‘Battle-Tested’ for Campaign”

Sept 2010: I think it’s great that they think that, but we are acting upon another possibility, and that is that we will hold the House.

Our members left Congress last night very confident that they would return in the majority. We take it one district at a time. Nothing less is at stake than the choice between going back to the exact agenda of the Bush administration or moving America forward, and our members are ready for the fight.

(2012) Pelosi says gains in California needed for Democrats to win back House

“California is a battleground in our effort to win the House for the American people,” House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said at a convention news conference. “A year ago, people would not have thought that the House would be in play. But indeed it is.”

(2012) “Pelosi vows to drop DOMA defense in Democratic House”

Pelosi was cautious about predicting that Democrats would win the 25 seats necessary to regain control of the House, saying there’s a “50-50” chance, nor would she presume that she would once again be elected speaker in that scenario.

“One thing at a time,” Pelosi said. “Let’s win the House first.”

(2012) USA Today: Pelosi aims for Dems to retake House, eyes old speaker post

“It’s never a sure thing. That’s why we have elections. But I think it’s a sure thing that we have a chance to win,” Pelosi told USA TODAY in an interview last week.

(2013) Politico: Pelosi unplugged

“This president, I think, has to do a better selling job,” she said. “I assume the people know the difference his presidency has made in taking us from … the verge of depression … One thing I would like to see the president do more — and many of us can help with that — but people want to hear it from him: … ‘This is what I said I was going to do. This is what I have done. These are the obstacles that the Republicans have put forth.’ … It’s not only important to do the right thing, … it’s important to prepare the American people for some of those decisions.”

Pelosi sounded surprisingly bearish about Democrats’ chances of picking up the 17 seats they need to win control. “We can win back the House,” she said. “I’ll know a little bit better in a … couple more months.”

(2016) ROLL CALL: Pelosi Predicts House Majority Will Come Down to a Single Digit Difference

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday predicted that whichever party wins the House majority in November will do so by a single digit.

“Either we’ll be a single digit ahead or they’ll be a single digit ahead,” the California Democrat said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “But we’ll make tremendous inroads in terms of the number of Democrats in the House.”

(2016) Washington Post: Nancy Pelosi is right. Democrats could win back the House in November.

“If Hillary [Clinton] were to win 54-46, oh my God. It’s all over. If it’s 53-47, and I think that’s in the realm of possibility … that’s a big deal. Five or more [percentage points] is a big deal.”