Schumer says Harris ticket boosts prospects for Democratic candidates

An optimistic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Tuesday he believes Democrats will keep control of the Senate and "may pick up a seat or two" with Vice President Harris at the top of the ticket.

"Man, we are so excited," Schumer told reporters, even beginning to sing the chorus of the Pointer Sisters song.

He said Harris could connect to middle class voters, calling her background as California attorney general an asset.

"The ability to really prosecute the case against Donald Trump gives us a feeling of real optimism," Schumer said.

The remarks mark a turn of fortunes for Democrats who were confronted with a lack of voter enthusiasm and flagging poll numbers when President Biden was at the top of the ticket. His poor debate performance against his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, prompted frontline Democrats to distance themselves from Biden. His unexpected – and historic – departure from the race and Harris’ ascension to the top of the ticket buoyed Democrats across the country.

Schumer said Democratic incumbents and candidates are "running even further ahead than we expected at this point." He suggested Democrats had a chance to sweep control of the White House, Senate and House, saying about the House, "that often follows the presidency."

A challenging map for Democrats

He acknowledged that voters had shrugged at President Biden's efforts to run on his legislative accomplishments like the infrastructure law and the bill boosting investments in semiconductor production. But he said individual senators were connecting with voters in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Nevada by touting their ability to get millions for specific bridge projects or tech hubs.

"We're not going to