Trump hopes to nominate Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court

THE REPUBLICANS HOPE US President Donald Trump to announce today that he is nominating Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

Conservative groups and congressional allies are laying the groundwork for a swift confirmation process for Barrett, even before Trump makes the selection official in a ceremony at the Rose Garden tonight.

They, like the president, are wasting little time moving to replace the late Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, running multi-million dollar publicity drives and rallying supporters to confirm the election.

For days, White House officials have indicated to Congressional Republicans and outside allies that Barrett is Trump’s pick, but his aides have not offered an official word as they try to maintain some suspense before the official announcement.

The likely change in the composition of the court, from Ginsburg, a liberal icon, to an outspoken conservative, would be the sharpest ideological turn since Clarence Thomas replaced Judge Thurgood Marshall nearly three decades ago.

For Trump, it will provide much-needed political aid as he tries to get his base up and running.

For conservatives, it will mark a long-sought payoff for their sometimes awkward embrace of Trump.

And for Democrats, it will be another reckoning moment, with their party locked in a bitter battle to retake the White House and the Senate.

President Donald Trump to nominate a conservative judge

Source: Evan Vucci / PA Images

Senate Republicans are preparing for confirmation hearings in two weeks, and a full house vote is now expected before Election Day. Democrats are essentially powerless to block votes.

“I’m sure he will make an outstanding nomination,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News. “The American people are going to take a look at this nominee and conclude, as we are likely to conclude, that she well deserves to be confirmed before the Supreme Court of the United States.”

“They are hell-bent on doing this as quickly as possible,” said Senate Democratic whip Dick Durbin. “They think it helps Donald Trump get reelected.”

Outside conservative groups, which have been preparing for this moment for 40 years, plan to spend more than $ 25 million to support Trump and his nominee.

Within hours of Ginsburg’s death, Trump made clear his intention to nominate a woman in his place, having previously put two men on the court and while fighting to mitigate the erosion of support among suburban women.

The White House already concluded a round of investigation this month, as Trump released 20 additional names that he would consider for the court. He has challenged Democrat Joe Biden to list potential nominees as well.

Trump had said he was considering five women for the Ginsburg job, including Barbara Lagoa from Florida and Joan Larsen from Michigan.

Barrett, of Indiana, was in the White House at least twice this week, including a Monday meeting with Trump. He is not known to have met with any of the other contenders.