Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., center, flanked by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., left, and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., speaks with reporters following a GOP policy lunch at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014. Republicans are increasingly optimistic that they can tilt enough seats to capture the Senate majority for the first time since the 2006 elections. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)