Kavanaugh Confirmation Seen as Much More Likely After Hearings

U.S. President Donald Trump and his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh talk during an announcement event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., July 9, 2018. (Photo: Reuters)

The Senate Judiciary Committee began holding hearings for the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court on September 4. Despite Democrats attempting to obstruct, pay protestors and stage outbursts, they didn’t land a glove on him.

As a result, even more Americans now view his confirmation as likely.

Prior to the hearings, 69% said it was at least somewhat likely that Judge Kavanaugh would be confirmed, including 38% who thought it was very likely and another 31% who thought it was somewhat likely.

Now, 84% think Judge Kavanaugh is likely to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, with 55% saying it is very likely.

Further, when asked whether the U.S. Senate should confirm Judge Kavanuagh, a 46% plurality says yes. Only 39% say no. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Republicans, 48% of unaffiliated voters and even 24% of Democrats also say the U.S. Senate should confirm him.

That’s up from July when President Donald Trump first announced the nomination to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced a few weeks before that he would retire, effective July 31.

Judge Kavanaugh, 53, serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Forty-four percent (44%) at that time said the U.S. Senate should confirm him, noticeably higher than the 33% who felt that way about Justice Kagan in May 2010.

That was also in line with the percentage (45%) who said the same of Justice Sonia Sotomayor in May 2009.

President Trump’s first nominee — Neil Gorsuch — was nominated and confirmed to replace the late great conservative justice Antonin Scalia. Both Justice Gorsuch and the soon-to-be “Justice’ Kavanaugh both clerked for Justice Kennedy.