‘Tribalism mentality’ at play in Kavanaugh’s confirmation, says pollster

The director of the Monmouth University Poll said on Wednesday that political tribalism is at play in President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation process. 

“We’re in the tribalism mentality here. He was nominated by Donald Trump,” Patrick Murphy told Hill.TV’s Joe Concha on “What America’s Thinking.” 

“If you look at his approval numbers, which are basically split, it’s seventy-some percent of Republicans approve of him, seventy-some percent of Democrats disapprove,” he continued. 

A recent poll conducted by NRR, PBS News Hour and Marist found that Kavanaugh’s overall favorability rating was 31 percent, while 37 percent said they had an unfavorable view of him. 

Sixty-seven percent of Republicans said they supported Kavanaugh, while 67 percent of Democrats said they opposed him. 

Kavanaugh is facing three sexual misconduct allegations dating back to his time in high school and college.

Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of holding her down, groping her and attempting to remove her clothes during a high school party in 1982, while Deborah Ramirez claimed he exposed himself without her consent during another party at Yale University a few years later.

Attorney Michael Avenatti released the identity of a client accusing Brett Kavanaugh of being present for a “gang rape” of which she was a victim in the 1980s. 

Julie Swetnick does not accuse Kavanaugh of attacking her but says he was present at a party where she was drugged with “Quaaludes or something similar” and attacked.

The survey was conducted before the third allegation was released, and the second allegation was reported while the poll was being conducted.