Former GOP chairman Michael Steele warned Republicans on Monday that the chaos surrounding Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination process could cost them the Senate in November.
In an interview with MSNBC‘s Chris Matthews, Steele said he believes some Republicans are already talking about how they can pull this nomination before it becomes an even bigger liability for them.
The former party chair added that, if Senators are forced to vote on Kavanaugh‘s nomination, it could put the Senate in further play for the Democrats.
“Republicans are probably looking for ways to avoid this,” Steele said. “This is a no-win scenario for them. … It becomes a matter of do you go through with this nomination and push a vote… which I think then puts the Senate in play in a way that people aren’t calculating right now.”
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The fight for which party controls the U.S. Senate has escalated in recent weeks as polling shows a neck-and-neck race in a handful of states.
Video:
Michael Steele says the Brett Kavanaugh nomination could have disastrous consequences for the GOP in the midterms. #ctl #p2 #SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/CkGS8sHTkE
— PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) September 18, 2018
Kavanaugh’s nomination might be pulled before next Monday’s hearing
A week is practically a lifetime in politics. There is a growing likelihood that Republicans will pull Kavanaugh‘s nomination before Monday’s planned hearing even takes place.
As former Hillary Clinton adviser Philippe Reines tweeted on Monday, there’s a better than 50-50 chance that Kanavaugh will ultimately withdraw his nomination by next week.
Kavanaugh & Ford testify on Monday. 55% chance he withdraws by then & says: “I want to spare my family from false but painful testimony.†7 days is a long time to survive. A new revelation, he’s done. Bad polling, he’s done. 2 Rs signal No votes…
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) September 17, 2018
At the end of the day, it shouldn’t be about the politics of the moment. If Republicans want to do the right thing – party affiliation aside – they should revoke Kavanaugh‘s nomination and delay any motion to fill the vacant spot on the Supreme Court until voters have a chance to weigh in this fall.
And, when the time comes, if they are looking for a qualified judge with a sterling record, they should give somebody named Merrick Garland a call.
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Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
