Judicial Crisis Network will spend $2.2 million to boost Trump's court pick
September 21, 2020
Judicial Crisis Network, a conservative legal group, will spend $2.2 million on television and digital ads in states with competitive Senate races, the beginning of a broader campaign to support President Donald Trump’s next nominee to the Supreme Court.
The ad, titled “Follow Precedent,” will air in several states including Iowa, Colorado, Maine and North Carolina, all of which have Republican senators in tight races. The ad will also air in Utah; Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) has yet to indicate whether he thinks the Senate should move forward with Trump’s nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday.
The ad accuses Democrats of “shamefully trying to change the facts” and highlights that Ginsburg was confirmed in 42 days and Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was confirmed in 33 days.
The fight over Ginsburg’s seat is expected to draw millions in ad spending from both the right and the left. Demand Justice, a liberal group that focuses on reforming the Supreme Court, has already pledged to spend $10 million on trying to stop Ginsburg’s seat from getting filled before the next president is inaugurated in 2021.
Trump said Monday that he will announce his nominee on Friday or Saturday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) vowed this past Friday evening that the Senate would hold a vote on whomever Trump nominates. However, it remains unclear whether the vote will occur before or after the November election.
The Supreme Court vacancy is already reverberating in key Senate races, with GOP incumbents taking different approaches.
Over the weekend, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who was a key vote in the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, said that the next president should choose Ginsburg’s replacement. Meanwhile, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said he’d support Trump’s nominee. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) has not yet issued a statement on when the vacancy should be filled, while Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said earlier this year she’d support moving forward on a vacancy during an election year.
Source: https://www.politico.com/
