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By Jordain Carney, The Hill
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will meet with Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's Supreme Court pick, on Tuesday as he begins to build support on Capitol Hill.
[post_ads]Kavanaugh will meet with McConnell and Vice President Pence at 11:15 a.m., according to guidance from the White House.
The meeting comes after Trump announced on Monday night that he would nominate Kavanaugh-currently a judge on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit- to succeed retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy.
McConnell's meeting marks the beginning of Kavanaugh's Capitol Hill charm offensive as he works to lock down the simple majority needed for his confirmation.
Kavanaugh said during his remarks at the White House that he would begin meeting with senators on Tuesday.
"I will tell each senator that I revere the Constitution. I believe that an independent judiciary is the crown jewel of our constitutional republic," Kavanaugh said.
He added that if confirmed he would "keep an open mind in every case and ... always strive to preserve the Constitution of the United States and the American rule of law."
Because Supreme Court nominees only need a simple majority to be confirmed, Republicans could approve his nomination without help from Democrats if they remain united.
With GOP Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) absent, Republicans are effectively capped at 50 votes. That leaves them with no room for error if they are forced to go it alone.
Three Democrats-Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.) and Joe Donnelly (Ind.)-supported Trump's first Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, last year.
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Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) is the only Democrat remaining in the Senate who voted for Kavanaugh for his current position.
But he said in a statement on Monday night that Kavanaugh's tenure on the D.C. circuit "has proven to be a profound disappointment."
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