There’s No Margin For Error As Republicans Gear Up For Brutal Nomination Battle
All eyes are on a handful of senators who could steer the direction of the fight. On the Republican side, there's Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who have a history of supporting abortion rights, as well as Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has thrown a wrench in leadership's proceedings before. On the Democrats' side, there are a red-state lawmakers who are up for re-election and are stuck between a rock and a hard place with the upcoming vote. Meanwhile, outside groups are hitting the ground running almost as soon as Kavanaugh's name left President Donald Trump's lips.
Politico:
Republicans Brace For Brutal Supreme Court Fight
Mitch McConnell and his Republican Caucus are enthusiastic about the prospect of filling a Supreme Court vacancy before the midterm elections. But they don’t deny the enormity of the task at hand. (Everett and Schor, 7/9)
Politico:
Senate Swing Votes Prepare For SCOTUS Onslaught
Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) were under intense scrutiny even before Trump tapped Kavanaugh, a veteran appeals court judge. But they quickly began feeling the pinch as more than a half-dozen prominent liberals in the caucus joined Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in opposing Kavanaugh as a hard-line conservative minutes after the nomination was rolled out — even as the White House and Senate Republicans began trumpeting the nominee as a “mainstream” pick. (Schor, 7/9)
The Washington Post:
Trump Supreme Court Pick: How Key Senators Reacted
With Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) away from Capitol Hill as he undergoes treatment for brain cancer, Kavanaugh’s fortunes could hinge on a single vote. Here are two groups of senators who will play a pivotal role in the confirmation process, along with their reactions to Monday night’s news. (Sonmez, 7/9)
The Washington Post:
With Trump’s Nominee Announced, The Battle For The Court Begins
Antiabortion activists plan to descend upon the home-state offices of three key Democratic senators on Tuesday. Liberals hope to take over Twitter with the #SaveSCOTUS hashtag while holding dozens of events across the country. And groups on both sides have prepared multimillion-dollar digital and television ad campaigns set to start Monday night. Even before President Trump’s announcement that Brett M. Kavanaugh will be his Supreme Court nominee to replace Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, the battle plans were in place and the arguments had been framed. What happens next is a no-holds-barred fight for public opinion and Senate votes, which history suggests the president is heavily favored to win. (Scherer, 7/9)
The Associated Press:
What To Expect In The Supreme Court Confirmation Battle
The stakes are enormous and advocacy groups that don’t have to disclose who is funding them are spending heavily to shape the fight. A look at what to expect. (Freking, 7/9)
The New York Times:
Conservative And Liberal Groups Gird For Battle Over Kavanaugh
Even before Justice Anthony M. Kennedy announced his retirement, Judicial Crisis Network, a conservative advocacy group, had reserved more than two dozen internet domain names — one for each candidate on President Trump’s list of potential Supreme Court nominees. The idea, said Carrie Severino, the group’s chief counsel, was to create a website template: “ConfirmBlank.com.” Now, President Trump has filled in the blank with the name of Brett M. Kavanaugh. ConfirmKavanaugh.com is live, and Judicial Crisis Network is already running advertisements. (Stolberg and Martin, 7/10)
The Wall Street Journal:
Outside Groups Plan Costly Campaigns For—Or Against—Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh
Among the biggest targets will be two Republican senators who back abortion rights: Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Though neither faces re-election this fall, liberal groups are expected to flood their states with ads urging them to press Judge Kavanaugh, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, about any possibility of challenging the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that guarantees the right to abortion. (Bykowicz, 7/9)
Politico:
Airwaves About To Get Nasty As Supreme Court Fight Gets Underway
Unlike Gorsuch, who replaced Antonin Scalia, an already conservative member, Trump’s replacement for retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy, viewed by many as the court’s swing vote, could significantly reshape the balance of the court. (Levine, 7/9)
