Analyst: McCain could resign to push Kavanaugh confirmation

PHOENIX — Ailing Arizona Sen. John McCain may be willing to give up his seat if it would help Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh be confirmed, a national political analyst said Tuesday.

ABC News analyst Alex Castellanos told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News, “There’s some word that if McCain is not able to vote and his vote is needed, he might resign and let someone appoint a senator who would support this judge.”

President Donald Trump announced Kavanaugh, a federal appeals court judge, as his choice Monday to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy.

The GOP has a narrow majority margin in the Senate, 51-49 (including two independents who caucus with the Democrats).

McCain has not been in Washington since December, while he battles brain cancer. Castellanos, who worked on presidential campaigns for George W. Bush and Mitt Romney, said the 81-year-old would try to make it back for the vote.

The senator has already showed public support of Kavanaugh.

“In selecting Judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill the vacancy left by Justice Kennedy, President Trump has chosen a nominee with impeccable credentials and a strong record of upholding the Constitution,” McCain said in a statement Monday shortly after the nominee was named.

“One of the Senate’s highest constitutional responsibilities is to provide advice and consent on nominations to the Supreme Court, and I look forward to the Senate fulfilling this critical duty through a fair and thorough confirmation process.”

Both of Arizona’s senators could have a say in Kavanaugh’s future.

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Only a couple of weeks ago, Flake said he would block the president’s judicial nominees, but not the Supreme Court pick.

“No issue unites Republicans like this,” Castellanos said.

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