The question is, does Mitch have the votes to confirm a nominee????
The GOP is in control by 53 to 47, but Murkowski of Alaska has said she won’t vote on a nominee before the election. So that brings us down to 52. Any other defectors, holding to some principles that we should wait till after the election to deal with this? Collins, McSally, Joni Ernst, Thom Tillis, Mitt Romney?
I hope McConnell wouldn’t have made such a statement if he doesn’t have the committments from enough Republicans to make it happen. Very soon, he will have to put up or shut up.
If he doesn’t have the votes it should still be done and should be used as a chip against the obvious efforts to steal the election through vote harvesting
Romney has already said that it is a “lie” that he will not confirm whoever President Trump nominates. All the weasels you mention are running scared, along with a Democrat or two. McConnel and Co. have been on a Ruthy death watch for years. They are ready for this one. Mitch knows he has the votes or he wouldn't have said that he would get President Trump's nominee confirmed. He has already gotten over 200 of President Trump's nominees confirmed. He feels that this is his legacy.
Ah, but elections for those 2whose seats are coming up.
That could be a factor in how many of them vote.
What Dem Senators would be risking their re-elections by opposing Trump’s pick?
That’s the question the media wants to avoid.
We only need one.
Tillis and Romney will vote to confirm.
Not sure about Ernst.
That leaves McSally and Collins.
After Murkowski, we can afford 2 defections. I suggest we offer the same deal Heidi Heitkamp from North Dakota got (she too knew she was going to lose reelection so the Democrats offered her a nice lucrative gig at a Democrat leaning think tank for being a loyal team player if she would vote their way against Kavanaugh which she did).
Between Ernst, McSally and Collins we just need to hang on to one of them. That makes it 50-50 and Mike Pence gets to cast the deciding vote.