CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will begin its confirmation hearings Tuesday regarding Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court with the chance of his confirmation succeeding unclear.
President Donald Trump nominated Kavanaugh in July to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, who retired at the end of the month. Fifty-one senators have to approve confirming Kavanaugh for him to get on the bench.
U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., have held separate meetings with Kavanaugh. Capito previously said she will vote in favor of confirmation.
Manchin has not come out with a position on Kavanagh, saying he is concerned about what putting Kavanaugh on the bench could mean for the federal health care law and protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions.
“I will not make a final decision on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination until I complete a thorough and fair examination of his candidacy in order to decide whether he should hold the position of Associate Justice on the highest court in the land, just as I did with Neil Gorsuch,” he said after his July 30 meeting with Kavanaugh.
Manchin also said he plans on meeting with Kavanaugh after the committee hearings.
The senior senator is facing pressure from multiple conservative leaders and groups to confirm Kavanaugh; Americans for Prosperity-West Virginia sent Manchin a letter in July urging support for confirmation, and Judicial Crisis Network launched a related campaign worth more than $2 million in West Virginia, Indiana, North Dakota and Alabama.
Representatives of the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List were in West Virginia last week as part of a multi-state campaign.
“His constituents expect more from him than just going through the motions,” said Sue Swayze Liebel, the coordinator of the organization’s National Pro-Life Women’s Caucus, of Manchin.
“It’s been really gratifying see so many people come out and understand just how important this vote is because this could potentially tip the balance of the court on abortion towards one that better represents the views of the American people.”
According to Gallup, half of Americans think abortion should be legal in certain cases, compared to 29 percent who think it should be legal in all cases and 14 percent who believe abortion should not be legal. Sixty-four percent of the country opposes overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision allowing a woman’s right to abortion.
Susan B. Anthony List is also attacking Manchin for his position on abortion rights, specifically voting to fund Planned Parenthood.
The organization’s entire campaign against Manchin is worth $1.6 million.
“He’s flipped-flopped an awful lot. He says one thing while he’s here at home in West Virginia, but he does another thing in Washington,” Liebel said.
“We are letting West Virginia voters know his voting record and also letting them know the importance of his confirmation for Judge Kavanaugh.”
Liebel said the organization plans to knock on 100,000 doors before Nov. 6.