How Kavanaugh got the votes

Republicans in the Senate say they saw Sen. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsKavanaugh in op-ed defends to emotivate "emotionally" GOP senator could miss Kavanaugh's vote for her daughter's wedding A bitter partisan battle over Kavanaugh enters the last chapter PLUS (R-Maine) from the beginning as key to Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court and collaborated as a team to cajole her as needed, but also to give her the opportunity to make her own decision.

In the end, the strategy paid off. And when Collins delivered a 40-minute speech in the Senate Friday In the afternoon, announcing his support for Kavanaugh, it seemed that his vote was never really in doubt.

Collins is known for her independence, but she also has a reputation with her Republican colleagues to be with them in big votes when she needs them the most.

Republicans know for weeks that the Democratic leader of the Senate Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerThe scores of Kavanaugh's protesters arrested after being taken down in the Senate building Anti-Kavanaugh protesters spelled out "to stop" with their bodies in court The Hill & # 39; s 12 : 30 Report – Presented by Citi – Senators Discuss FBI Report | Major senators welcoming the inquiry as being thorough | Key vote planned for Friday PLUSThe strategy of N.-A. was to maintain his unified caucus for as long as possible in order to put pressure on the leader of the majority Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellProtestor who faced Flake in a lift: he is torn between his conscience and his party – The GOP Senator may miss Kavanaugh to vote for his daughter's wedding A bitter partisan battle over Kavanaugh enters the last chapter (R-Ky.) To get enough votes outside of his own conference.

This meant that Kavanaugh's appointment would be reduced to two moderate Republicans, Collins and Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa Ann Murkowski: Hundreds of Alaska lawyers ask Murkowski and Sullivan to vote "no" to Kavanaugh Kavanaugh in op-ed defends to become "moved" Senator GOP may miss Kavanaugh to vote for the wedding of his daughter MORE (R-Alaska). If McConnell could keep one of the two on board with the rest of his conference, he would win a major victory for President TrumpDonald John TrumpHeitkamp publishes an announcement explaining Kavanaugh Trump's vote refusal mocks Al Franken about his resignation: he folded "like a wet rag" O "Rourke is not" interested "by the Obama's approval MORE.

All other GOP Senators were to vote yes as soon as Trump announced the appointment of Kavanaugh, a 12-year veteran of the Circuit Court of Appeal and senior administration official George W. Bush, as second choice of the Supreme Court in July.

Republicans control 51 seats and can not afford more than one defection.

The GOP leaders thought that if they could demonstrate that they had the votes to confirm Kavanaugh by themselves, it would put pressure on the centrist Democrats facing tough elections in November so that they also vote in favor re-election.

In the end, Sen. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinKavanaugh, in the op-ed, defends the emotion of Senator GOP who could miss Kavanaugh's vote for his daughter's wedding A bitter partisan battle on Kavanaugh enters the last chapter PLUS (W.Va.) was the only Democrat to support Kavanaugh, but it was clear that he was closely watching what Collins was going to do.

Manchin met Collins and Murkowski – as well as Sen. Jeff FlakeJeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeKavanaugh, in an editorial, defends himself to protest the emotion "who faced Flake in an elevator: he is torn between his conscience and his party" The GOP senator could miss Kavanaugh's vote for the his daughter's wedding MORE (R-Ariz.), Which unexpectedly appeared as a third undecided vote of the GOP relatively late in the process – in the Collins Capitol shelter last week in the evening after Kavanaugh had testified before the Judiciary Committee.

Confirming it was a daunting task for McConnell, who called Neil Gorsuch's confirmation to the Supreme Court in 2017 – after vacating the seat of the late Judge Antonin Scalia for nearly a year – as he said. one of his greatest professional achievements.

McConnell led Kavanaugh's defense in a very public way. He was much more forthright than he was in pushing ObamaCare to repeal the legislation in 2017 or even in the tax reform package of last year, leaving the rest of the conference to lead the way. essential of the public relations battle.

The GOP leader warned members of his conference that failure to obtain Kavanaugh's confirmation just weeks before the mid-term elections would sow the Republican base in disarray and be disastrous.

On September 18, he urged Republicans on the Judiciary Committee to "get things done" and reminded them that the Supreme Court would be a top priority for Conservative voters in November.

McConnell was solely responsible for choosing the timing of the appointment and did everything to prevent it from being delayed.

"That's all McConnell. This is not leadership. It's a man who will decide, "said a Republican Senegalese advisor.

McConnell was keen to maintain his schedule after last month's announcement that Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of having sexually assaulted her at a high school party 36 years ago.

But he agreed to postpone a ground vote for a week once Collins, Murkowski and Flake teamed up to force him to give the FBI more time to investigate the charges.

In his back pocket, McConnell could count on his close personal relationship with Collins, a member of the Credit Committee, who shared his work ethic and pragmatism.

This relationship was visible shortly before Collins announced his support for Kavanaugh when McConnell invited him to lunch with him in the Senate dining room.

McConnell does not have such a strong relationship with Murkowski, whom he opposed in his run for re-election in 2010 after losing the Senate's Senate primary to Conservative candidate Joe Miller, whom she defeated during a written campaign.

Murkowksi was the only Republican to vote against Kavanaugh's progress in a key procedural vote Friday. She said Friday night that she objected to her candidacy but demanded that her vote be marked "present" as a courtesy to her colleague Sen. Steve DainesSteven (Steve) David DainesGOP Senators Likely to Miss Kavanaugh's Vote for Daughter's Marriage How was Trump's Tax Law Passed? Key Conservation Fund for Parks Expires PLUS (D) to allow him to attend his daughter's wedding at home in Montana.

Throughout the fight for the increasingly controversial candidacy, McConnell worried about the impact this would have on the Senate and the damage it would cause to future Supreme Court debates, a shared concern by Collins.

"I think he saw that it was a challenge not only for Brett Kavanaugh but also for the Senate and that the Senate confirmation process was compromised, and I think we wanted to save Kavanaugh and save the Senate at the same time, Sen says. Lamar AlexanderAndrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderDems refuses to use federal funds to arm teachers Night health care: GOP plays a defense role against pre-existing conditions | Groups furious against Trump's new immigration proposal | Advocates of public health discourage the transfer of funds for migrant children. Night health care: Senators tackle surprise medical bills | Group Plans to Authorize Medicaid Funds for Addiction Treatment Programs | FDA launches anti-vaping campaign for teens MORE (R-Tenn.), Who is close with McConnell and Collins.

Collins said in her speech that she also worried about the potential impact on future confirmation debates if Kavanaugh was dismissed because of an allegation of unsubstantiated sexual assault. .

She stated that the allegation disclosed had turned the confirmation process into "a dysfunctional circus" and had expressed the hope that "the Senate, and indeed all Americans, would re-examine how we evaluate candidates." to the Supreme Court. "

Collins raised concerns about the allegation of sexual assault, but said that she was generally satisfied with Trump's choice of Kavanaugh and that she considered him a judge of consensus able to defend the historical record of the right to abortion Roe v. Wade and control the president. when it is necessary.

She often consulted Sen. Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanThe last chapter of the partisan battle around Kavanaugh is on the way to Kavanaugh's confirmation and begins to solidify overnight. Pruitt canceled trips for which he already had tickets for | Senate committee approves new park fund PLUS (R-Ohio), one of his closest friends in the Senate, who served on Kavanaugh under the George W. Bush government and introduced it before his first round of hearings before the Judiciary Committee of the Senate.

Portman said that he had mainly served as a sounding board for Collins, listening carefully while she weighed the pros and cons of the appointment.

"She's a friend and I think I have a relationship that allows me to listen. I'm not trying to push her. She is very independent. Susan wants to do the right thing. Period. It's not a matter of politics for her, "Portman said.

He noted that Collins regarded Kavanaugh as a better candidate than some of the other names on Trump's shortlist of candidates.

"This is something we share with her," he said, adding that he was also happy that Kavanaugh was chosen. "This guy is a consensus builder, much like his former boss, Judge Kennedy, in the sense of bringing people together."

"That's what he did on the ground, D.C. Circuit," he added, noting that Kavanaugh had already been a clerk for Justice Anthony Kennedy, whom he is about to replace.

Portman met Collins for about 45 minutes Wednesday morning and he was spotted the escort Thursday Afternoon in the secure room of the Capitol Visitors Center, where senators considered the FBI report that nothing could corroborate Ford's allegations.

Collins congratulated Kavanaugh as soon as Trump announced it in July, saying it would be difficult for anyone to say he was not qualified for the high court.

Friday, she emphasized her ability to build consensus for over ten years on the DC circuit and indicated that Merrick GarlandMerrick Brian GarlandGraham said he would keep a seat on the Supreme Court if there was a vacancy last year in Trump's tenure. Mellman: Why Kavanaugh should withdraw Schumer blames McConnell against the "double standard" of the Supreme Court NEXT, the chief justice of this court, which President Obama appointed to the Supreme Court in 2016, has joined more than 96% of the majority opinions written by Kavanaugh.

Collins also consulted with other senators at the GOP conference, including Sen. Shelley Moore CapitoShelley Wellons The CapitoACLU M campaign in the anti-Kavanaugh campaigns does not target Flake, Collins 'Collins' Collins senator qualifies Ford as "credible" The rural America fears not to miss the 5G PLUS (RW.Va.), Who stated that the fact that the Democrats did not share Ford's allegations with the entire Judiciary Committee until shortly before the date scheduled for the vote of the Committee of Experts did not like them.

"We talked throughout the process," she said. "The conversation consisted mainly in getting their opinion on the FBI's investigation or on what had happened at the hearing and discussing some of the ramifications on the vote in one way or from another. "

Capito said she agreed with Collins that it was important to give the FBI more time to review Ford's allegations, so that "everyone is happy with your investigation."

Republican Whip of the Senate John CornynJohn CornynBitter: Partisan Battle around Kavanaugh enters last chapter Kavanaugh's Way to Confirmation begins to consolidate Kavanaugh's Battle puts Senate on edge of precipice MORE (Texas) said that keeping Collins in the group and unification of the rest of the GOP team was a group effort.

"We are all talking to each other all the time," he said.