Update: Susan Collins of Maine said she would give Mr Kavanaugh her vote, becoming the last Republican to declare her intention. Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia then announced his support, giving Donald Trump’s nominee the support he needs to clear a final confirmation vote scheduled for Saturday. FT
Earlier
Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh cleared a major hurdle Friday morning in his quest for the Supreme Court, as the Senate voted narrowly to cut off debate on his nomination and move to a final vote as early as Saturday, but one Republican senator left open the possibility that she could still vote no.
New York Times reports The 51-49 vote is the next-to-last step in the most tumultuous Supreme Court confirmation process in decades. Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, said her vote to move the confirmation forward did not signal how she will vote in the end. Instead, she will announce her position on Judge Kavanaugh at 3 p.m. Friday. Senator Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, also voted yes, freeing Vice President Mike Pence from a tiebreaking vote on the nomination after Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, voted no.
It was unclear whether the votes of Senators Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, and Manchin reflected their final position. Republican leaders could be seen working hard even after the procedural vote ended to reverse Senator Murkowski’s opposition.
For Judge Kavanaugh, and the country, the stakes are huge: If confirmed, President Trump’s second Supreme Court nominee will replace the high court’s swing vote, the retired Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, with a committed conservative, shifting the ideological balance on the court toward the right for generations.
BBC reports “The US Senate has narrowly voted to advance President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to a final vote. Friday’s vote – called “cloture” – was a test of support for the embattled nominee who has faced sexual assault allegations from several women.
All eyes are on four swing senators for Saturday’s final vote. Mr Kavanaugh’s confirmation in the final vote on Saturday would tilt the court in favour of conservatives. Following Friday’s vote, Mr Trump tweeted that he was “very proud”.
