Still, he said, Republicans need to help retain more than 40 Senate members to keep the Democrats from "jamming" everything through.
"I'd love to tell you I'm going be the majority leader next year, but the numbers are daunting," McConnell said. "There's virtually no chance we can get the Senate back."
McConnell, a Kentucky Republican speaking at a lunch sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said that news may be difficult to swallow, but that fellow party members need to work hard to keep enough seats to prevent Democrats from overriding GOP filibusters.
"We are often referred to as the firewall," he said. "If we are the firewall, you're looking at the fire chief" and he's hoping to hold onto enough firemen and firewomen to fight back.
McConnell's seat itself is on the brink. Democrats have targeted him this cycle along with several open or competitive seats. Republicans are defending more seats this year compared to the Democrats in the Senate.
McConnell praised Hatch and fellow Utah senator, Bob Bennett, for their work to raise money for the party. Hatch, as vice chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has helped rake in millions to boost candidates and incumbents.
The minority leader also noted to the Utah crowd the thousands of protesters in downtown St. Paul, some of whom have slashed tires, broken windows, even thrown urine-filled containers at delegates.
"With these crazies running around in the streets, these are not the people you want to enable to take over the government of the United States," McConnell said. "You don't want to bring the crazies into the house, to give them the keys to the place."
Asked afterwards whether he was likening the protestors to the Democratic Party, McConnell said, "I don't know what they are."
"They certainly are out of the mainstream of America," he said.
