Hoyer on Congress and besting McCain on national security

Congressman Steny H. HoyerToday's weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal has columnist Kimberly Strassel's wide-ranging interview of Rep. Steny Hoyer, in which the Majority Leader talks about the accomplishments and bipartisanship of the 110th Congress, the 2008 elections and Ronald Reagan's place among Democrats.

On maintaining the House majority in the 2008 elections, Hoyer predicts, "I think we'll pick up north of 10" new Democrats, believing, "Most of [the 41 elected in 2006] are in tough districts, that is say, swing districts, but all of them are in very good shape."

He feels John McCain is the strongest candidate the Republicans could have picked, as he "has appeal beyond his party," yet is ready to engage him on the Arizona Senator's hallmark issue of national security.

From Wilson to Clinton, Hoyer runs through the litany of Democratic presidents who led the country in wartime, noting, "Frankly, the only Republican who is in that group is essentially Ronald Reagan."

Read the entire interview here.