McConnell says Kavanaugh confirmation fight ‘energized’ GOP voters heading into midterms



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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday that he believed the fierce battle to confirm U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh has energized GOP voters ahead of November’s midterm elections.

“Ironically, the behavior of, first, the Democrats on Senate Judiciary Committee, and then the overreach of the protestors at the Capitol have actually energized the Republican base, particularly in the red states where we’re trying to pick up seats out across America,” the Kentucky Republican told CBS’ “Face The Nation” on Sunday. “So, I want to thank the other side for the tactics that have allowed us to kind of energize and get involved our own voters.”

He added, “But everybody knows how energized the Democratic side is for a whole variety of different reasons, and so our energy and enthusiasm was lagging behind until this.”

Kavanaugh was sworn in Saturday evening as an associate justice to the high court after the Senate narrowly confirmed him, 50-48, largely along party lines. Protesters chanted, jeered and marched across the Capitol to oppose his confirmation—even pushing past the police line and storming up steps to pound on the doors of the U.S. Supreme Court.

In his “Face The Nation” appearance, McConnell also thanked Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia for being the lone member of his party to vote in a favor of Kavanaugh — but sidestepped a question about whether he would ask President Donald Trump not to campaign against Manchin.

“Joe Manchin is still a Democrat,” he said, laughing, “and we’re trying to hold the majority.”

During his confirmation process, Kavanaugh was accused by three women of sexual misconduct during his high school and college years: Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick. Ford, who said Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers, testified in an emotionally charged hearing about her allegation before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Kavanaugh has denied all allegations against him.

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