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After weeks of tumult and testimony, allegations and anger, pain and postponement, it is still all about four undecided senators.
There will be ample time to figure out what this nomination means -– for the Senate, for the court, for this moment, for the election, for the country.
But today, it’s all about the math: Can Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell get 50 senators to “yes”?
The bottom line: Republicans do not have the votes as of dawn this morning, per people with direct knowledge. McConnell is heading into the day that could clinch one of, if not the, cornerstone achievement of his career – tilting the court’s makeup firmly to the conservative side – and he doesn’t currently have the votes. He and his top deputies are optimistic, no question. But it’s not there yet.
The schedule: The Senate will gavel into session at 9:30 a.m. ET. The vote to end debate (cloture) on Kavanaugh’s nomination is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
To make it clear: This morning’s vote is procedural -– Republicans need a simple majority to end debate (aka invoke cloture.) But make no mistake about it — this is the ballgame. Senators are unlikely to flip their votes between today and Saturday.
In other words: Kavanaugh’s future as a Supreme Court justice will be decided today.
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