The Hill News

The Senate's top Republican said Wednesday the election should send a warning to Democrats thinking of siding with President Obama.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the lesson to Democrats is that "choosing the president over your own constituents is not a good strategy."

McConnell should be in charge of 46 or more Senate seats after Republicans made inroads during Tuesday's elections.

The Kentucky Republican is expected to continue to lead the Senate GOP in the minority, but he said his goal is to get a majority as soon as possible.

"Clearly, the election yesterday did not transfer full control of the government to the opposition," McConnell said at the Capitol during an appearance with probable new House Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) and Republican Governors Association Chairman Haley Barbour (Miss.).

McConnell said the election was a "first step" to Republican victories, be it through winning o! ver Democrats on issues in the next two years, or by winning more seats in the 2012 elections.