Republicans secure votes for US Supreme Court confirmation
● Trump set to announce nominee to replace Ginsburg on Saturday
Senate Republicans have swiftly fallen inline behind US president Donald Trump’s push to fill the late Justice Ruth Bad er Gins bur g’ s Supreme Court seat as one of the last holdouts.
Senator Mitt Romney said he supported a vote despite Democrats’ objections that it was too close to the 3 November election.
Mr Trump, who will announce his nominee Saturday, is all but certain to have the votes to confirm his choice.
“I guess we have all the votes we’re going to need,” Mr Trump said yesterday, “I think it’s going to happen.”
Conservatives are pushing for a vote before election day. Republicans hold a slim 53-47 majority in the Senate and a simple majority is needed for confirmation.
But with early voting for president already under way in several states, all sides are girding for a wrenching Senate battle
Mr Romney backed up his decision by saying it was not “written in the stars” the court should have a liberal bent, and Mr Trump’s pick will tip the nation’s high court to become more conservative.
It was “appropriate”, he told reporter sat the Capitol ,“for a nation which is, if you will, centre right, to have a court which reflects a set of right points of view”.
Mr Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell have launched one of the quick est confirmation processes in modern times. No court nominee in US history has been considered so close to a presidential election.
Mr Mcconnell was holding private meetings at the Capitol and later at GOP campaign headquarters to assess the next steps.
Democrats, led by presidential nominee Joe Biden, vowed a tough fight, but need four GOP defections to block consideration. So far, two Republicans have said they oppose taking up a nomination at this time, but no others are in sight.
Under Senate rules, vice-president Mike Pence can break a tied vote.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, who will shepherd the nomination through the chamber, said Republicans had the support they need. Hearings could start early next month, aides said.
“The nominee is going to be supported by ever y Republican in the Judiciary Committee,” Mr Graham, who faces his own tough re - election in South Carolina, told Fox News. “We’ve got the votes to confirm the justice on the floor of the Senate before the election and that’s what’s coming.”
Mr Trump met with conser vative Judge Amy Coney Barrett at the White House on Monday and told reporters he would inter view other can - didates and might meet with Judge Barbara Lagoa when he travels to Florida later this week.
Conversations in the White House and Mr Mcconnell’s office have been increasingly focused on Barrett and Lagoa.
Judge Barrett has long been favoured by conservatives, and those familiar with the process said interest inside the White House seemed to be waning for Judge Lagoa amid concerns she did not have a proven record as a conservative jurist. Judge Lagoa has been pushed by some aides who touted her political advantage of being Hispanic