No doubt, there will be many brushback pitches during the confirmation process of Brett Kavanaugh--it will truly be a rough ride (to mix a metaphor)--but I am almost certain that he will eventually be confirmed.
For one thing, red-state Democrats who are up for re-election in 2018--Joe Manchin of West Virginia; Joe Donnelly of Indiana; and Claire McCaskill of Missouri--will be under intense pressure to break ranks with Chuck Schumer, and vote according to the desires of their constituents.
And John Tester of Montana may also vote for confirmation.
And I am really unconvinced that Susan Collins (of Maine) will vote against this nominee. Her recent proclamation that she could not vote for anyone who would challenge Roe v. Wade was likely just cover for the fact that she will probably be inclined to vote for this nominee; and, since Judge Kavanaugh has not (and presumably, will not) make an unambiguous statement in this regard, she can then tell her constituents, "Well, I voted for a man who did not say anything about voting to overturn Roe.
So it is possible that Judge Kavanaugh may receive 50 Republican votes, plus a handful of Democratic votes.
Comments?