WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s party could lose its House majority in this fall’s elections, his spokesman said Sunday, perhaps trying to jolt Democratic voters with the specter of GOP lawmakers rolling back White House policies.
“I think there’s no doubt there are enough seats in play that could cause Republicans to gain control. There’s no doubt about that,” press secretary Robert Gibbs told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Democrats hold a 255-178 edge in the House, with two vacancies in the 435-member chamber. Forty to perhaps 60 House seats could be competitive by the fall.
Republicans would need to take back about 40 seats to slip into the majority, putting the current GOP leader, Ohio Rep. John Boehner, in line to replace Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as speaker.
“I think we have to take the issues to them,” Gibbs said, adding that the primary argument would be how Republicans would govern as the majority party.
