DEMS/ELECTIONS/GOP/NOMINATIONS/SENATE/SUPREME COURT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The drama surrounding this election-year Supreme Court nomination now fully swings from who the pick would be—it’s D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Brett Kavanaugh—to which senators announce their support or opposition, and when. The margin for error for Republicans to get Mr. Trump’s pick confirmed is very thin, so in that respect almost any senator could be considered a key vote. But it appears this fight will probably come down to just a handful on each side, which means the question of who takes their position first could determine the final tally. Since Justice Anthony Kennedy first announced his retirement, Democrats have said their best hope to derail this nomination is to pressure Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to vote against a nominee who could be the determining vote in overturning Roe vs. Wade. So these two senators, both of whom support abortion rights, could well be the biggest names to watch right now as liberal groups step up political spending to pressure the pair.”
–Joshua Jamerson, “Political Intelligence Trump Picks Kavanaugh. How Will Senate Dominos Fall?,” The Wall Street Journal online, July 10, 2018 9:55 am