White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Sunday that he believes Democrats will hold the House and Senate, backing off his earlier warning that House Democrats’ majority is in jeopardy.

Gibbs caused a mini-controversy this summer when he said Republicans could take over the House in the midterm elections.

“There’s no question it is a tough and challenging political environment,” Gibbs said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “Come election night, I think we will retain control of the House and Senate.”

Gibbs said Democrats have engaged the electorate and created excitement about President Barack Obama’s agenda, and he said that effort is starting to shrink the enthusiasm gap between Republican- and Democratic-leaning voters.

Gibbs also tried to put to rest rumors that he is planning to leave the White House to become chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He said that it is a “tremendous honor and privilege to serve this president and any president” and that he has not considered leading the DNC.

“I’ve spent no time thinking about or talking to people about what comes next for me,” Gibbs said.