How Reince Priebus is trying to position the GOP for big wins in November
Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, discusses efforts to move his organization away from being a ' 'U-Haul' trailer of cash' for presidential nominees.
Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus speaks at the St. Regis Hotel on March 18, 2014, in Washington.
Michael Bonfigli /The Christian Science Monitor
Reince Priebus has been Republican National Committee chairman since 2011. He was the guest at the March 18 Monitor Breakfast.
His mission at the RNC:
"The RNC had become basically a 'U-Haul' trailer of cash that gets hooked up to a presidential nominee for a short period of time, and then the national party went away again for three years.... [That] caused us to atrophy in a big way across the country. And [that] ... is what I am trying to address."
Whether 2014 will be a "wave" election:
"We're in for a tsunami-type election in 2014.... It's going to be a very big win, especially at the US Senate level ... we may even add some seats in the congressional races."
The impact of "Obamacare" on 2014:
"Losing your doctor, getting your insurance canceled.... It is going to be an issue that is going to [give us a great boost] among – especially – single women over 35 [who] are working.
One effect of taking back the Senate:
"If you have a Republican Senate, you have a much greater opportunity to box the president in on issues ... if you can't get a bill on his desk."
GOP's struggles with immigration reform:
"There's a general agreement that we need to have serious immigration reform, but I don't believe that there's general agreement as to what that reform is."
The importance of GOP outreach to minorities and women:
"Showing up, being in the community..., getting to know folks on a year-round basis – not just for five months but for five years and beyond – is fundamental."