"Jamelle Bouie of the NY Times pointed out that the money injected into the economy by the CARES Act probably prevented a Republican rout:"

Makes you wonder why Mitch didn't approve another CARES Act in hopes of re-electing Trump. Maybe Mitch didn't WANT to re-elect Trump. McConnell has already pronounced himself "consequential." He cut taxes and appointed judges. He really didn't need four more years of being known as Trump's bugger boy, even though, in fact, it was he who was using Trump and not vice versa.

People may misconstrue McConnell's aims. I suspect he'd like to pad his "legacy" with actual legislative accomplishment on infrastructure, healthcare, or immigration. I also think Biden is a better streetfighter than Obama. Obstruction failed to defeat Obama; Mitch lucked out when "a pox on both your houses" put Trump in the White House. My guess is that his own instincts and Biden's skills will result in some serious progress this time around.