With little leverage on Court pick, Dems eye Plan B

Without procedural leverage, Democrats are focused now on keeping their own caucus of 49 senators together in opposing whomever President Trump nominates while aiming to sway a couple of moderate Republicans. And they are already forming a campaign around the warning that the next justice could vote to overturn Roe v. Wade and completely gut the Affordable Care Act. The message is intended to galvanize the base, of which women in particular have proven to be a mobilizing force, and put pressure on red state Democrats and GOP senators like Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, who voted against the repeal of Obamacare.

“There’s no procedural silver bullet,” tweeted Adam Jentleson, a former aide to Sen. Harry Reid. “The most important Q is whether Ds have the will to fight against overturning Roe v. Wade in an election year where women are driving Dems’ strength…Lock down 49 [Democratic votes] & fight like hell.”