The Hill News

Republicans' push to win back the House this fall is a "comeback story" on the highest level, one of the leaders of that effort wrote Wednesday.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the GOP's chief deputy whip and principal architect of the party's new governing platform, the "Pledge to America," said Republicans' resurgence ranked with the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team's "Miracle on Ice" at the 1980 Games, the Boston Red Sox' 2004 World Series victory, Apple CEO Steve Jobs's return to that position in 1997 and actress Betty White's recent career renaissance.

"There is another comeback story unfolding as we speak: In 2010, the Republican Party has emerged from the wilderness, ready to lead and ready to advance the will of the American people," McCarthy wrote on Townhall.com, a conservative commentary website.

Republicans, including McCarthy, have acknowledged that the party deserved to lose in 2006, when a Democratic wave swept the GOP out of power and handed control of the House and Senate to Democrats.

The California Republican paraphrased Mark Twain in reference to the GOP.

"To plagiarize a sentiment from Mark Twain, reports of the party’s death have been greatly exaggerated," he said.

(Interestingly enough, Vice President Joe Biden has used a similar line on the campaign trail lately to describe the state of the Democratic Party going into the Nov. 2 elections.)

McCarthy and other GOP leaders have made a similar pitch to voters, pledging not to misuse the trust voters placed in them should Republicans return to power.

"This fall, we will witness a comeback; not just of the Republican Party, but of the principles Americans hold so dear! ," he wrote. "With the help of the American people, Republican! s are re ady to lead again, and this time, we will not let America down."