Manchin, McCaskill, Heitkamp and Sens. Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Jon Tester of Montana will have ample latitude over the next two years to break with their party and vote with Trump and congressional Republicans. Still, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) needs eight Democratic defectors on legislation — and there aren’t enough moderates in the minority to consistently give it to him.
Correct on most legislation, but the Senate values its customs and traditions. Sen Coons, for example, already regrets going along with Reid on blowing up the filibuster. So there may be enough Ds - regardless of ideology - that would be content to vote YES on cloture and NO on the confirmation itself — the best of both political worlds, in their view.