McConnell will hold it down for 6-to-8 weeks...then waste two weeks on discussions, and allow a vote. My humble bet is 1 or 2 Republicans vote with the Democrats. Other than recalling them and forcing them through another state election, there’s nothing much you can do.
Another second nominee by July, and maybe three to five Republicans vote with the Democrats.
If I were a betting guy....I’d say its impossible for the Republicans to hold this until January.
majority of the people (idiots) want one picked.
but I don’t think it would hurt the presidential vote.
if Trump and the repubs were working together, trump could come out and say “pick one now” and the repubs could just not do it.
but they don’t play together.
IF the do hold until January, it will be at a pretty high cost. You can quote the Constitution all day, but the Senate not acting will come across as lazy slackers not doing their job, not as a tactical move.
It would have been much smarter to let the President appoint, and let the Senate vote, but voting down the appointment.
Delay and obstruction is ALWAYS bad optics to the middle ground. Partisans see the usefulness, and of course the Democrats did the same thing (and arguably paid a political price for doing so), the Independents, however, call BS, I think the vast majority of them think EVER appointment should ALWAYS get an up or down vote and to hell with committees.