Kavanaugh is voted on to US Supreme Court

Strategists believe that Supreme Court crisis over Kavanaugh could lead to anti-Democrat backlash

BRETT KAVANAUGH was approved for the Supreme Court last night, creating a more conservative bench and handing President Donald Trump a major political victory.

Amid scenes of protest outside, the US Senate voted 50 to 48 to confirm his nomination. Two senators, one on each side of the debate, sat out the vote.

It ends one of the most bitter confirmation processes in recent US history. Mr Kavanaugh had been accused of sexual misconduct by three women, which he categorically denied. There is now a majority of conservative judges on the court, something Republicans have sought for decades. Mr Kavanaugh, 53, will be appointed for life.

REPUBLICANS are hoping a “Brett bounce” created by the furious battle over Donald Trump’s Supreme Court pick can help them turn around their fortunes and exceed expectations at next month’s midterm elections.

Polls have suggested a recent surge in enthusiasm from Mr Trump’s base as the fight over Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to America’s top court became increasingly heated.

In July, Democrats had a 10-point lead over the Republicans for how many of their supporters saw the midterms as “very important”, according to one survey. That gap is now down to two points.

It indicates how the Supreme Court fight has fired up Republicans and could result in more of them turning out on voting day – a crucial factor for who will win the congressional races.

It also suggests that Democrat protests may have only served to further energise the opposition.

In particular, the poll boost could help in 10 Senate races where Democrats are trying to hold on to their seats in states won comfortably by Mr Trump in the 2016 election, often by double figures. “Prior to the Kavanaugh hearing, the intensity level was really on the Democratic side,” said Kevin McCarthy, a leading Republican congressman. “But in the last week there has been a fundamental shift.”

The optimism came as Mr Kavanaugh was confirmed as a Supreme Court judge last night, with US senators backing his nomination by 50 votes to 48. Two senators sat out the vote, one from each side, because of a schedule clash.

It ended a bruising confirmation process that has seen Mr Kavanaugh face accusations from three women of sexual misconduct – claims he denies.

Securing two judges on America’s highest court, which hands conservatives a clear majority on the bench, is huge political achievement for Mr Trump after just two years in office.

It will help convince evangelical supporters and moderate Republicans that they were correct to stand by his unorthodox candidacy rather than disown him before the 2016 presidential vote.

Moments after the vote passed, Mr Trump tweeted: “I applaud and congratulate the US Senate for confirming our great nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, to the United States Supreme Court. Later today, I will sign his Commission of Appointment, and he will be officially sworn in. Very exciting!”

However, the row has highlighted deep fault lines in American society in the wake of the MeToo movement against sexual harassment and underlined the partisan and polarised state of US politics.

The impact of the confirmation battle, which has gripped the country since the claims surfaced last month, on November’s vote remains unclear.

All members of the House of Representatives and a third of US senators are up for re-election. Republicans hold slim majorities in both bodies but that could change.

If the Democrats take back control of the House, something which is seen as likely, they will be able to block Mr Trump’s legislation and launch a string of damaging investigations into his administration. It is a longer shot for them to take back the Senate, given far more Democrats who already hold seats are up for re-election than Republicans, but nothing is being ruled out.

There are already signs of how the Supreme Court battle has energised the Republican base, with strategists saying they have seen a surge in donations in recent weeks. However, Democrats too believe they could find political advantages from the bitter Supreme Court fight.

‘Prior to the hearing the intensity level was on the Democratic side. There has been a fundamental shift’