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."
