Just minutes after President Trump announced that he would nominate Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Senate liberals declared their opposition, putting increased pressure on red state Democrats like Claire McCaskill to follow their lead or risk alienating their base.
McCaskill has a tough choice in front of her. A new poll shows 57% of Missourians want McCaskill to confirm the President’s nominee, leaving her with no room to maneuver. If she decides to listen to her constituents and support Judge Kavanaugh she risks alienating her left-wing donors and enraging her liberal base. But if McCaskill sides with Senate liberals and votes to block a qualified nominee, simply because he was nominated by President Trump, she will infuriate Missouri voters and put her chances of reelection in further jeopardy.
“Claire McCaskill has to decide whether she’s willing to risk her Senate seat just to placate the liberal activists who are hell-bent on blocking an eminently qualified nominee to the Supreme Court,” said NRSC Spokesman Bob Salera. “Missouri voters are watching McCaskill closely, and if she abandons them to stand with Chuck Schumer and Senate liberals it will be fresh in their minds when they head to the polls in November.”