Political analyst Bill Schneider said Wednesday it was politically risky for Sen. Susan Collins (R-Me.) to vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh given Maine’s political environment.
“I think she’s got to be worried about antagonizing not just Democrats, but women voters. She’s a Republican in a very blue state, and it’s very risky for her to vote for Kavanaugh,” Schneider told Hill.TV’s Joe Concha on “What America’s Thinking.”
Schneider’s comments come after a survey conducted by the left-leaning Public Policy Polling found that 49 percent of voters said they would be less likely to support Collins if she votes to confirm Kavanaugh.
Collins is a critical swing vote in Kavanaugh’s confirmation process, along with Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
Republicans hold a 51-49 majority, meaning they cannot afford to lose more than one GOP senator without needing help from Democrats to confirm Kavanaugh.
Kavanaugh is facing multiple sexual misconduct allegations, which has upended his nomination process.
Collins on Wednesday blasted President Trump for mocking Kavanaugh’s first accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, at a campaign rally on Tuesday.
“The president’s comments were just plain wrong,” Collins told reporters.
Flake also slammed Trump’s comments on Wednesday, calling them “kind of appalling.”
— Julia Manchester
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