President Trump's choices to succeed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg are down to two women, both federal appeals court judges.
The frontrunners are Amy Coney Barrett of Chicago, the early favorite, and Barbara Lagoa, who is viewed as easier to confirm. The Senate confirmed Lagoa 80-15 last year, so many Democrats have already voted for her.
- Lagoa is a Cuban American from Florida, and Trump is being told the choice could help him win the state. He said Saturday he's never met Lagoa.
- Even people in the West Wing remind us: With Trump, you never know till it's actually done.
Look for Senate Republicans to barrel ahead with the confirmation process as if they were going to vote before Election Day.
- The vote could wind up being held after the election, in the lame-duck session in November. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska say they want to wait. Two more objections, and there wouldn't be enough Republican votes to go ahead in the next 43 days.
The lame duck is the fallback. Top GOP officials at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue see huge risk in waiting.
- Say Trump loses ... or Republicans lose control of the Senate ... or both.
- There'd be enormous pressure on Republicans to defer to the incoming winners. Some unexpected GOP senator could suddenly defect.
- Collins said in a statement this weekend: "[T]he decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the president who is elected on November 3rd."
That's why antsy Republicans — being called "fill the seat" hawks — want a pre-election vote.
- Joe Biden yesterday urged Republican senators to resist jamming a nomination: "Please follow your conscience."
- Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer appeared in Brooklyn last night with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, vowing to fight a GOP rush.