Brokaw: ‘The Tea Party Is Not Going To Go Away,’ ‘It’s An Insurgency’

NBC News’ Tom Brokaw sat down with the hosts of MSNBC’s The Cycle on Monday where he weighed in whether President Barack Obama would be able to govern effectively in his second term if he wins on Tuesday by a narrow margin. Brokaw appeared skeptical that Obama could win by a large enough margin to secure a mandate. He also said that those who expect the Tea Party faction of the Republican party to disappear if Obama is victorious will be disappointed.

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Steve Kornacki asked Brokaw if he felt like there was a path to victory for President Obama where he wins by significant enough margins that it yields a political mandate for him in order to govern effectively in a second term.

“That would surprise me,” Brokaw replied. “Here’s what I do know: the Tea Party is not going to go away.”

“I’ve been talking to them. It’s an insurgency – and they’re going to continue,” Brokaw added. “However large or small, their success is in this election, they have found their purpose in life.”

Watch the segment below via MSNBC:

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