Senate GOP plans vote on Trump's court pick before election

 Votes in hand, Senate Republicans are charging ahe with plans to confirm President Donald Trump’s pick to fill late Justice Ruth Ber Ginsburg’s Supreme Court seat before v. 3 election, launching a divisive fight over Democratic objections before a minee is even anunced.

Trump said Tuesday he will name his choice Saturday, confident of support. Democrats say it's too close to election , and winner of presidency should name new justice. But under GOP planning, Senate could vote Oct. 29.

“I guess we have all votes we’re going to need,” Trump told WJBX FOX 2 in Detroit. “I think it’s going to happen.”

Republicans believe court fight will energize voters for Trump, boosting party and potentially deflating Democrats who cant stop lifetime appointment for a conservative justice . Senate is controlled by Republicans, 53-47, with a simple majority needed for confirmation. one remaining possible Republican holdout, Mitt Romney of Utah, said Tuesday he supports taking a vote.

Still, with early presidential voting alrey underway in several states, all sides are girding for a wrenching Senate battle over health care, abortion access and or big cases before court and sure to furr split torn nation .

It is one of quickest confirmation efforts in recent times. court minee in U.S. history has been considered so close to a presidential election. And it all comes as nation is marking grave milestone of 200,000 deaths from coronavirus pandemic .

During a private lunch meeting Tuesday at Senate GOP campaign hequarters, several Republican senators spoke up in favor of voting before election. ne vocated a delay.

Elsewhere, as tributes poured in for Ginsburg with vigils and flowers at court’s steps, Democrats led by presidential minee Joe Biden vowed a tough fight. Senate Democratic leer, Chuck Schumer, said “we should hor her dying wish,” which was that her seat t be filled until man who wins presidential election is installed, in January.

But that seemed longer an option. So far, two Republicans have said y oppose taking up a mination at this time, but ors are in sight. Under Senate rules, Vice President Mike Pence could break a tie vote.

While t all Republican senators have said y will support eventual pick, few appear willing to stand in way of a top party priority.

Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell me scheduling anuncements. But hearings could start as soon as Oct. 12 by Senate Judiciary Committee, with a vote in full Senate by Oct. 29, according to a GOP aide granted anymity to discuss deliberations.

After Trump met with conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett at White House on Monday he told reporters he would interview or candidates and might meet with Judge Barbara Lagoa when he travels to Florida later this week. Conversations in White House and McConnell’s office have been increasingly focused on Barrett and Lagoa, according to a person granted anymity to discuss private deliberations.

Barrett, 48, a judge on U.S. Court of Appeals for 7th Circuit, has long been favored by conservatives. Those familiar with process said interest inside White House seemed to be waning for Lagoa amid concerns she did t have a proven record as a conservative jurist. Lagoa has been pushed by Florida's goverr, and aides tout her political vants of being Hispanic and hailing from key political battleground state.

Democrats point to hypocrisy in Republicans trying to rush through a pick so close to election after McConnell led GOP in refusing to vote on a minee of President Barack Obama in February 2016, long before that year’s election.

Romney, GOP's 2012 presidential minee, dismissed that argument, saying “it was t unfair” for Republicans to refuse to consider Obama’s choice of Merrick Garland.

Utah Republican backed up his decision by saying it’s t “written in stars” that court should have a liberal bent. He said Trump's pick will tip court to become more conservative, and he said that is appropriate “for a nation which is, if you will, center right, to have a court which reflects a center right point of view.”

At private lunch, Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana said, senators vocating swift voting warned of “too many complications” if it's delayed until after election — presumably if Biden wins White House or Republicans lose Senate.

Conservative groups pushing for swift approval also argue election result could be disputed with legal battles dragging on for weeks.

Democrats say voters should speak first, on Election Day . Biden appealed to GOP senators to “uphold your constitutional duty, your conscience” and wait until president is chosen.

But few Republicans are willing to cross Trump. president has criticized Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska for opposing a Senate vote before elections. Trump warned y would be “very bly hurt” by voters in vember.

Collins went furr Tuesday saying she would vote against Trump's pick, “t because I might t support that minee under rmal circumstances but we’re simply too close to election.”

parties braced for fight ahe.

At an evening rally in Pittsburgh, Trump marveled at how important Supreme Court is to some voters, and at his own opportunity to pick a third justice. “Can you imagine?” he asked.

“se sorts of fights bring Republicans toger,” said Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., party’s Senate campaign chairman.

At a memorial on National Mall marking 200,000 COVID deaths, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi paid tribute to Ginsburg and warned against Trump's coming court challenge to Affordable Care Act. “It’s a time for us to vote health," she said.

mounting clash over vacant seat injects new turbulence in presidential campaign with nation still reeling from coronavirus pandemic and shattered ecomy, with millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger.

Ginsburg, 87, died Friday of metastatic pancreatic cancer. She will lie in state at U.S. Capitol this week, first woman accorded that hor. Her casket will be on view Wednesday and Thursday on steps of high court.

minee has won confirmation so quickly since Sandra Day O’Conr — with opposition from eir party — became first woman to serve on Supreme Court in 1981.