Senate near Kavanaugh approval after epic struggle

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin and Republican Senator Susan Collins voted exactly how every informed observer expected them to vote-especially Collins.

The lawyers of both women have also complained that several witnesses they had offered to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to corroborate their claims had not been contacted at all.

Republicans control the Senate by a meager 51-49.

In the pivotal moment Friday, Collins, perhaps the chamber’s most moderate Republican, proclaimed her support for Kavanaugh at the end of a Senate floor speech that lasted almost 45 minutes.

Republicans can only lose a single GOP vote if all Democrats vote against the nomination.

Following the vote, the pivot to midterm elections will be swift, with the left seeking to use a Kavanaugh confirmation as a battle cry for liberal voters. Senators could still change their support in the coming day, but continued support from Collins, Flake and Manchin would push Kavanaugh’s confirmation through.

The low-key tour in Egypt has contrasted with the political tumult back home where her husband was set to score a big political win over the weekend after days of acrimonious deadlock inside and outside the Senate over his Supreme Court pick.

The vote on confirming Kavanaugh as an associate justice will begin at roughly 3:30 p.m., and senators have been advised to be in their seats by the time the historic roll call begins.

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona also said on MSNBC on Friday he would vote yes on Kavanaugh’s final confirmation barring no late breaking developments. As I’ve said previously, my job is to assess the facts before us and the fact remains that no evidence exists to support the allegations made against Judge Kavanaugh.

After weeks of intense debate that has gripped the nation, the conservative appeals court judge on Friday won vows of support from two centrist senators, leaving no clear path in the Senate for Kavanaugh’s opponents to block him.

On Thursday, about 300 protesters, including sexual assault victims, were arrested after staging demonstrations on Capitol Hill opposing Kavanaugh, chanting “Believe survivors”.

People shouted “shame, shame” as Manchin spoke to reporters about his decision.

“I believe that Brett Kavanaugh is a good man”.

Kavanaugh was accused by Ford in September of committing sexual and physical assault while they were both at a party in high school.

While Grassley did not expand on the content of the “recently uncovered information” in his letter to Ford’s attorney, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that McLean-the same woman Ford supposedly helped prepare for a polygraph examination years ago-had contacted Keyser, urging her to clarify her statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

How did the senators come to their decisions?

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., had announced plans to be at his daughter’s wedding back home on Saturday.

If at least 50 senators vote to move forward with the nomination on Friday, Vice President Mike Pence can step in to break a tie, and the Senate can proceed to a final vote on Saturday.

The debate sparked smoldering resentment by partisans on both sides, on and off the Senate floor. Trump said in a tweet.

He also is seeking any records relating to communications with Debbie Ramirez and Julie Swetnick – two other women, who have made claims against Kavanaugh.

Several recent polls show that Republican enthusiasm about voting, which had lagged behind Democrats, jumped after a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week.

Kavanaugh would replace the retired Justice Anthony Kennedy, who was a swing vote on issues including abortion, campaign finance and same-sex marriage.