Dems to public: Fight to KO quick court pick

Senate Democrats are turning to the public for help.

The upper chamber Dems called on Americans everywhere Tuesday to mobilize against a Republican plan to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Election Day, hoping that the power of the people can save the Supreme Court in the same way that it saved Obamacare.

Facing enormous public pressure, a handful of GOP senators spared Obamacare from extinction in July 2017, when they broke party lines to block a bill that would have undone the health care law — and that moment was on many Democrats’ minds Tuesday after the GOP all but sealed the deal to quickly confirm President Trump’s forthcoming Supreme Court pick.

“You know we didn’t have the votes when Affordable Care Act came up in 2017, but people all across this country got engaged, and finally it hung by a single thread, but enough Republicans stepped up and saved health care for tens of millions of people,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (DMass.) said. “The people who spoke up three years ago will speak up again. What we are doing right now is making clear what’s at stake, and getting everyone in the fight. This fight touches the lives of every single person in this country. It’s all on the table.”

Warren’s plea for public intervention came after Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said he will back Trump’s push to have his Ginsburg replacement pick confirmed by Nov. 3.

Romney’s green light gives Republican leaders enough votes to jam through Trump’s nominee without any Democratic support. Trump is expected to announce his nominee Saturday, giving Republicans about six weeks until the election to hold confirmation hearings and vote.

But, like Warren, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said it’s not over until it’s over.

“I know this is an uphill battle, but just like when we defeated Trumpcare when no one thought we could: Everyone who speaks up matters, every voice is going to make a difference,” Murray said at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol. “And we should never underestimate that. So to those out there who care as much as we do, stand up, speak out. It makes a difference.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) concurred. “We need Americans to continue to fight with us to keep holding Republican senators accountable,” he said.

“They should let their Republican senators know.”