You saw this with McConnell acknowledging Joe Biden as President-elect.

You saw this with McConnell blocking Trump’s push to raise stimulus checks to $2,000, which would have split Senate Republicans.

And you’re seeing it now with his effort to curtail futile resistance by the GOP to congressional certification of Biden’s victory.

Yes, but: Until now, McConnell’s strategy was buffeted by the chaos Trump created. Now, the Senate leader — whose autobiography is called “The Long Game” — is finally able to set the party’s course.

“McConnell is trying to reclaim the role he had in 2009 — leader of the opposition to a new Democratic president,” said a Republican operative familiar with the leader’s thinking.