I think they admitted their fallibility when they said “closer than anticipated.” Too bad, that would have been a heckuva boom if they had got it right.
I had 52-48, but on paper you’d think Heitkamp would have voted for confirmation at least to get to 53. Murkowski was lynchpin for DEMs. I interpreted POTUS saying “closer than anticipated” the same. BUT whether 50-48, 53-47, 52-48 or 50-50 ... those counts all include Flake voting AYE (uggh!). Kudos to the Turtle for steering (PUSHING!) it through and Chairman Grassley for auditing the books. When Lindsey Graham told JUSTICE K that it was the wrong time and the wrong place to have a fair hearing by DEMs, it was the right time and place for POTUS to go for the WIN. It was a well deserved and hard fought win for JUSTICE K & the Constitution :)