By signaling a yes vote, he makes it more possible that other votes will peel away.
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I do not see the logic in that. If anything, I would think the reverse.
Both parties have members who vote against the party when their vote is not absolutely needed. Manchin, on the Dem side. Murkowski and Collins will face a lot less pressure over their votes if there are 50 announced votes for confirmation. They may convince one more Senator to join them, in the hopes of appearing consistent, or because the Dems come up with some phony claim against the nominee.
I don’t think anyone other than Collins and Murkowski will go against the party on this vote. It would be a mistake. But Romney’s only chance to shut down the nomination is to be the 50th vote. So announcing that he will vote for the nominee is the only play he has if he hopes to defeat the nomination. Which I think he does. Were he to join Collins and Murkowski, it would put the pressure on the remaining weak links, and that would make it MORE likely the nominee will get 50.
Notice Romney is hedging his bets. https://noqreport.com/2020/09/22/dont-bank-on-mitt-romney-just-yet/ All he needs is some negative info created by the dems to decide that the nominee is not qualified. He’s hoping they give him some good stuff that allows him to play the prig.