Just minutes after President Trump announced that he would nominate Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Senate liberals declared their opposition, putting increased pressure on red state Democrats like Joe Manchin to follow their lead or risk alienating their base.
Manchin has a tough choice in front of him. A new poll shows 59% of West Virginians want Manchin to confirm the President’s nominee, leaving him with no room to maneuver. If he decides to listen to his constituents and support Judge Kavanaugh he risks alienating his left-wing donors and enraging his liberal base. But if Manchin sides with Senate liberals and votes to block a qualified nominee, simply because he was nominated by President Trump, he will infuriate West Virginia voters and put his chances of reelection in further jeopardy.
“Joe Manchin has to decide whether he’s willing to risk his Senate seat just to placate the liberal activists who are hell-bent on blocking an eminently qualified nominee to the Supreme Court,” said NRSC Spokesman Bob Salera. “West Virginia voters are watching Manchin closely, and if he abandons them to stand with Chuck Schumer and Senate liberals it will be fresh in their minds when they head to the polls in November.”