Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh taking me on on a regular basis, even misrepresenting my voting record.
It was extremely unpleasant.
Obviously, we should have focused more on [independents and Democrats], and made an even greater effort to turn them out. I fault myself and my own campaign as much as I do anything else.
On What Role Moderates Can Play I see a place for moderates in politics in America, and in the Republican party. I think we have to do a better job of articulating where we are and what we are doing. I believe we have to be vociferous in our approaches to legislation.
We’re going to have to create support groups that are going to be able to stand up to some of the outside interests. Huge money was poured into campaigns by very conservative groups ... and moderates aren’t up to that at this point. There’s got to be a refocus as far as that’s concerned. … Michael Bloomberg is working with that, and others, and I think you’ll see some shifts and changes.
This election was interesting … The general thinking is that standard Republican candidates, such as myself, could have won [in Delaware, Nevada and Colorado].
Republicans could be in equal numbers [to Democrats] in the U.S. Senate. That should be a lesson for anybody who’s a Republican.
On His Plans for the Future I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I’ve been talking to law firms in Wilmington and Washington, D.C., about possible employment. My wife says I should just retire.
I will probably not run for office again. That is not part of my future planning. But I have no particular plans or commitments.
I think I counted the books I have backed up to about 62, and I love to read. So I’ll do a little more of that. Jane, my wife, will put me to work if I’m sitting around the house.
On His Relationship With Leadership The poor Whip’s people, like [Reps.] Roy Blunt [R-Mo.] and Eric Cantor [R-Va.], spent more time with me probably than almost anybody else, trying to say ‘oh, it’s important as Republicans that we do this.’
I feel the political parties assert sometimes too much influence in Washington. They talk about lobbyists, et cetera. But I believe sometimes it’s the party ideological drive that’s too strong.
As a result, I would say no at times. Other times, I would try to bring others with me. … that was never easy … there were times when I just didn’t believe in the direction we were going and I just stood up to it.
On His Biggest Accomplishments in Congress One was welfare reform. I had worked on that with Bill Clinton … when we were all governors together. After a couple of futile efforts … we were able to get welfare reform done, which I think has been a successful program.
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