“I think on the last pick Hardiman was Trump’s second choice for the court....so I would expect that he has the inside track on getting the seat. He’s 53 next month”
That is correct. Also, he has worked on the 3rd Circuit with POTUS’ sister, who reportedly has a very favorable opinion of him.
He looks good. A “dark-horse” not on the list, is Harvard professor Adrian Vermeule. He was a Scalia clerk.