McConnell sends his congratulations to Biden, Harris [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• During his address on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) congratulated President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect and Kamala Harris.
• Biden called McConnell to give thanks, with the hope that they could work hand-in-hand.
• McConnell acknowledged Biden’s political efforts, saying that he was a devoted public servant.

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) gave his congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris after the Electoral College hand in the victory on Monday.

“The Electoral College has spoken. So today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden,” the GOP leader said on the Senate floor.

“I also want to congratulate the Vice President-elect, our colleague from California, Senator Harris. Beyond our differences, all Americans can take pride that our nation has a female vice president-elect for the very first time.”

Speaking to reporters early Tuesday, Biden said he and McConnell had a conversation.

“I called to thank him for the congratulations, told him although we disagree on a lot of things, there are things we can work together on… We agreed we’d get together sooner than later,” the President-elect said.

Biden also said that seven “mostly senior” GOP senators gave him a call to congratulate him.

As expected, Biden obtained 306 electors while Trump got 232. On January 6, the electoral votes will be officially counted at a Congress joint session.

Based on reports, McConnell urged his Republican colleagues through a phone call, telling them to acknowledge Biden’s victory during the bicameral session. GOP legislators would be forced to take a vote whether they should break ties with President Donald Trump should any of them oppose Biden’s electoral win.

In the upcoming joint session, some GOP House members were considering to challenge Biden’s win and force a vote, but they would need help from at least one Senator. McConnell, however, said it would be a “terrible vote” as reported by Politico’s Jake Sherman.

Come January, Republicans will hold at least 50 Senate seats, awaiting the runoff elections for two Georgia senators on January 5. Should their party regain those two seats, McConnell will continue his reign as the most powerful GOP who could block Biden’s nominees and future policies.

And in the case of becoming the minority (should they lose in the Georgia runoff), the Kentucky lawmaker could still frustrate the former vice president’s legislative plans by leading his party members in delaying future measures.

McConnell, though, made a pleasant gesture by commending the President-elect, saying that Biden was “no stranger to the Senate,” adding that [Biden] has “devoted himself to public service for many years.”

Source: New York Post