BRETT KAVANAUGH/GOP/RALLY/SEX ABUSE/SUPREME COURT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WOMEN: “Sen. Joe Manchin praised President Donald Trump’s handling of the allegations facing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh over the weekend in a private telephone call, thanking the president for supporting an FBI investigation and his relative public restraint. The West Virginia Democrat, one of five remaining undecided senators, had a different verdict on Wednesday [10-3-18] after Trump attacked Christine Blasey Ford’s account of her alleged assault by Kavanaugh…After two weeks in which Trump mostly focused his attacks on Democrats, his about-face has jolted the undecided senators who will determine whether Kavanaugh will be confirmed in the coming days. Manchin and Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska all criticized Trump sharply for his remarks, reactions taken as unhelpful by GOP leaders. Those three Republicans in particular have frayed or nonexistent relationships with the president, and Republicans playing point on Kavanaugh’s confirmation were visibly frustrated with Trump changing up his tactics as a vote on Kavanaugh appears imminent. While top Republicans said Trump was merely echoing the doubts raised about Ford’s timeline and lack of corroboration, they acknowledge that his comments don’t get them any closer to confirmation and may actually be a setback.”
–Burgess Everett, “‘Not helpful’: Senators sour on Trump’s handling of Kavanaugh accuser,” Politico, October 3, 2018 2:23 pm