If Trump picks Mike Lee, can Murkowski or Collins possibly argue they aren't voting to overturn Roe while confirming him?
This is as strong and as passionate a speech against Roe by any senator I can recall, and he made it just months ago:
This is as strong and as passionate a speech against Roe by any senator I can recall, and he made it just months ago:
I suppose there is a possible argument to be made for naming Lee even if his nomination were to fail, say, 50-49. An open seat on election day w/Roe at stake would be maximum motivation for voters in Senate races, and the map favors GOP...
There would still be time to slam through a more conventional pick before Jan. 3rd in the unlikely but not impossible scenario of Democrats winning control of the Senate. Or Trump could renominate Lee in a new, more Republican Senate.
There are also potential benefits here to Trump. Lee pick would be cheered by anti-abortion base which is a major part of the GOP coalition. (See the subset known as "but Gorsuch" Republicans). And he would be fulfilling a campaign promise.
