“Hey Lisa Murkowski, I can see 2022 from my house…”
— Sarah Palin, on Twitter.
$2 Million Already Raised for Future Collins Opponent
Activists have now raised nearly $2 million for a future Democratic opponent of Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) if she votes in favor of Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Collins is expected to announce her final vote at 3 p.m. ET.
Trump with Toilet Paper Stuck on His Shoe
It’s not every day the President of the United States is seen boarding Air Force One with with toilet paper stuck to the bottom of his shoe.
Kamala Harris Plans Iowa Trip
“Getting more serious about a 2020 run by the day, Kamala Harris (D-CA) has been reaching out to Democrats in Iowa to plan a trip there at the end of the month,” The Atlantic reports.
“The California senator is likely to spend the final weekend before the midterms in the home of the first caucuses, crossing a symbolic but unmistakably significant line toward owning her interest in a presidential campaign.”
Gianforte Offers Private Plane to Daines
Rep. Greg Gianforte’s (R-MT) private plane could make it possible for Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) to be in two places at once Saturday, Roll Call reports.
“Daines plans to walk his daughter Annie down the aisle for her wedding in Bozman, Montana on the same night his yea vote may be required for Republicans to approve Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court.”
Said Daines: “My good friend and colleague Greg Gianforte has come to save the day. He’s offered me use of his plane. I appreciate his generosity as well as his dedication to family and country.”
Top Democratic Super PAC Backs Away from Bredesen
“One of the top Democratic aligned super PACs says it will no longer consider helping Democratic candidate Phil Bredesen in Tennessee’s Senate race after Bredesen announced his support for Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court,” the Daily Beast reports.
“The group, Priorities USA Action, also said it would steer clear of Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin’s reelection fight in West Virginia should he vote to confirm Kavanaugh on final passage this Saturday. On Friday, Manchin was the sole Democrat to vote to proceed with the nomination.”
GOP Senators Think Collins Will Back Kavanaugh
“Republican senators are confident that Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) will announce her support for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Friday afternoon, after days of talking to her about her concerns,” The Hill reports.
“GOP senators swarmed around Collins after a key procedural vote Friday morning, in which Collins voted to advance the nominee to an up-or-down vote on Saturday. She cast her vote shortly after saying she would announce her position on Kavanaugh during a 3 p.m. floor speech on Friday.”
CNBC reports that Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) will vote to confirm Kavanaugh.
How Murkowski Could Decide Control of the Senate
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Kavanaugh Nomination Clears Senate Procedural Vote
The U.S. Senate voted in favor of ending debate on Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, 51 to 49.
Of the reportedly undecided senators:
- Sens. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Susan Collins (R-ME) voted yes.
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted no.
Murkowski is almost certainly a no on the final vote. Collins said she would announce her final vote in a speech later this afternoon.
The final vote can take place as soon as Saturday afternoon.
Collins Won’t Announce Her Vote Until This Afternoon
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) will announce how she plans to vote on Brett Kavanaugh’s final confirmation during a 3 p.m. ET Senate floor speech, NBC News reports.
That suggests that this morning’s cloture vote might not be the same as final vote. Collins is expected to vote yes on cloture.
The Real Blue Wave Could Come in the States
Charlie Cook: “I expect net gains for Democrats in governorships of between six and a dozen, and a pickup for Democrats of between 400 and 650 state legislative seats, more than the average midterm loss of 375 seats for the party in the White House. These state elections are the most under-reported story in politics, with control of chambers likely tipping from Republicans to Democrats.”
The Cook Political Report moved four governor’s race — Illinois, Minnesota, Oklahoma and South Dakota — toward the Democrats.
Also interesting: Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio and now South Dakota are in the Toss Up column.
Did Brett Kavanaugh’s Op-Ed Help?
First Read: “The good news for Kavanaugh is that he wrote the op-ed, acknowledging that his tone last Thursday was way off key. But here’s the bad news about the op-ed: It was poorly placed (why the conservative Wall Street Journal opinion pages and not, say, USA Today?); it didn’t spell out what he wants to dial back; and it neglects to mention that he wrote those opening remarks himself — the day before his testimony.”
“The question you have to ask yourself after reading the op-ed: Does Kavanaugh truly believe he was wrong to say the things he said at the hearing? Or does he just wish he hadn’t said them? Remember, Kavanaugh’s past partisanship (hello, Ken Starr) was always one of the most problematic parts of his resume before Christine Blasey Ford.”
Gardner Will Vote for Kavanaugh
Although the Denver Post reported last night that Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) might be on the fence regarding Brett Kavanaugh, the senator’s office released this statement:
“Sen. Gardner has been supportive of Judge Kavanaugh throughout the nomination. He had the opportunity to review the FBI report tonight. Nothing in the report changed his mind and he remains supportive of Judge Kavanaughs nomination.”
Durbin Still Sees ‘Fire’ In Kavanaugh’s Eyes
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) told CBS News that he will never forget the “fire” in Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s eyes during last week’s dramatic hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Said Durbin: “I understand his emotion and his anger. This has to be a terrible ordeal for him and his family and I understand that part. But the fire in his eyes when he turned into this partisan screed is something I’m not going to forget. I cannot imagine a Supreme Court justice who would be so partisan, make such wild claims, and then ask to be put on a bench and trusted his temperament.”
The Suburbs Are the Midterm Election Battleground
City Lab: “If you want to find a Republican member of Congress, head out into the country. To find a Democrat, your best shot is in a city. But to find a competitive election this fall? Head to the suburbs, where control of the House of Representatives will likely be decided.”
“More than 40 percent of the U.S. House of Representatives is composed of predominantly suburban districts, according to a new CityLab analysis that classifies all 435 U.S. House districts according to their densities. These seats are currently closely divided between Democrats and Republicans. But that balance could be washed away by a “blue wave” in November. There are 28 Republican-held suburban districts that are competitive1 this fall under FiveThirtyEight’s projections—close to 40 percent of Republicans’ 74 suburban seats. The number of suburban Democratic seats in play: 1 out of 90.”
Unemployment Rate Falls to Just 3.7%
The unemployment rate fell to 3.7%, down from 3.9% in August, its lowest level since 1969, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Quote of the Day
“I’m glad he picked him. I swear to God, there was a time I thought he would pick Judge Judy.”
— Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), quoted by the Washington Post, praising President Trump’s pick of Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court.
McConnell Doesn’t Have the Votes for Kavanaugh Yet
CNN: “Republicans do not have the votes as of dawn Friday morning, according to people with direct knowledge.”
“McConnell is heading into the day that could clinch one of, if not the, cornerstone achievements 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.”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) agreed, according to Reuters: “As of now I don’t really know and I don’t know if anybody else does.”
