The cloture vote is underway in the Senate, this is the critical procedural step necessary to move to a floor vote tomorrow afternoon. Two of the “undecided” Republicans, Jeff Flake and Susan Collins, voted yes on cloture.

Jeff Flake voted yes on cloture for the Kavanaugh confirmation. So did Collins

— Laura Litvan (@LauraLitvan) October 5, 2018

Breaking —> Murkowski, in a very quiet voice, votes no on cloture

— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) October 5, 2018

https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/1048222377849606145

They can still backtrack and vote against the nomination tomorrow, but in light of Flake’s statement saying he will vote for Kavanaugh and Collins’s hint in that direction, it is unlikely. If they are yes tomorrow, we don’t really care what Murkowski does.

Collins’ procedural vote this AM may NOT be the same as her final vote. After she votes FOR cloture this morning, that may or may not be the same as her final vote on confirmation. Source tells me it is unknown what she will do until she makes her announcement at 3p

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 5, 2018

This is true. But it is equally possible that Murkowski’s no vote was a protest against the length of the just-ended investigation and that she will be a yes on Kavanaugh.

Agreed to, 51-49: Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #1127, Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

— Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) October 5, 2018

=========
=========
Like what you see? Then visit my story archive.
Follow @streiffredstate

I’m on Facebook. Drop by and join the fun there.
=========
=========