The confirmation battle for President Trump's Supreme Court nominee was never supposed to drag on this close to Nov. 6. The allegations against Brett Kavanaugh appear to have electrified the bases of both parties with the midterm elections only five weeks away. The president predicted on Tuesday that the saga would boost turnout on the right. "I actually think it's like a rallying cry for the Republicans." - Trump The Morning Report took that question to some of Washington's top pollsters on both sides of the aisle. Here's how they responded: Celinda Lake, Democratic pollster: "I think it will mobilize women, especially millennial women and unmarried women under 55. It will help women candidates. The Barbara Lee study showed the issue of sexual harassment made women more likely to turn out to vote, especially millennial women. It sets up a strong agenda of stronger enforcement of sexual harassment and no taxpayer funds used for settlements. But it also has the potential to energize some Trump male voters, in particular." Robert Blizzard, Republican pollster: "I have seen an uptick in GOP enthusiasm the last couple weeks. But it's important to note that the chaotic political environment shifts and changes at a rapid pace. If [Kavanaugh] gets confirmed this week, it could already be old news by next week." John Anzalone, Democratic pollster: "I think the GOP is kidding themselves that in an election cycle where political dynamics are being driven by women, that somehow Kavanaugh helps them. The most recent Quinnipiac University poll showed women oppose the Kavanaugh confirmation by 18 points and independents oppose him by 10. And these are shifts away from him from their previous poll. [Republicans] can spin it all they want, but sexual misconduct is not the narrative they want 35 days from an election." John McLaughlin, Republican pollster: "It will have an impact on who controls the Senate. Democrats already had the anti-Trump base motivated, so this late hit against Kavanaugh looks like an effort to deflate the conservative base. If Kavanaugh is withdrawn, you'd see fewer Republicans at the polls. It would be particularly devastating to social conservatives and Evangelicals, and would put states like Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Tennessee at risk. But If Republicans stand behind Kavanaugh, then Democrats are looking at losing seats in North Dakota and West Virginia if they don't support him." Patrick Murray, independent pollster: "As of right now we are not seeing any notable impact on the House races. Basically it is only reinforcing where voters already stand. This all could change though after the actual confirmation vote. And it's not clear what that impact would be. We will have to wait and see." On to the news… The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the FBI investigation into claims of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh could be completed as soon as today, keeping Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on track to hold the confirmation vote at the end of the week or over the weekend. The Hill: Senate GOP coy on when final vote will happen. At a rally last night in Mississippi, Trump mocked the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a high school party in 1982. "How did you get home? I don't remember. How'd you get there? I don't remember. Where is the place? I don't remember. How many years ago was it? I don't know. What neighborhood was it in? I don't know. Where's the house? I don't know. Upstairs, downstairs, where was it? I don't know, but I had one beer. That's the only thing I remember." - Trump Reuters: Amid Kavanaugh fight, Trump says it's a "scary time" for young men. Ford's attorney fired back over Twitter. 
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Kavanaugh's confirmation, even with the GOP holding a 51-49 majority in the Senate, is far from a sure thing. Trump's taunts will do nothing to bring wavering Republicans on board. The three Republican swing votes to watch are Sens. Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska). Republicans can only lose one of them if all Democrats vote no. The Hill: 2020 primaries loom over GOP senators on Kavanaugh. Murkowski made encouraging comments for Republicans on Tuesday when she addressed questions about the veracity of the FBI investigation. "I think the FBI is doing what we've tasked the FBI to do. That's all I can ask for." – Murkowski The Hill: FBI in the eye of Senate storm. Reuters: Some potential witnesses say they have reached out to the FBI in vain. Flake made comments that should alarm Republicans. "[Kavanaugh's] interaction with the [Senate Judiciary Committee] was sharp and partisan and that concerns me. I tell myself give a little leeway because of what he's been through, but on the other hand, we can't have this on the court." – Flake There is enormous pressure on red-state Democrats up for reelection this year as well, although only Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) remain undecided. The conservative Judicial Crisis Network (JCN) launched a new round of television and digital ads on Tuesday in West Virginia and North Dakota, urging Manchin and Heitkamp to confirm Kavanaugh. JCN pointed to two Public Opinion Strategies surveys released after the Kavanaugh hearings that found strong support for his confirmation in both states. West Virginia: 58 percent support Kavanaugh's nomination, 28 percent oppose. North Dakota: 56 percent support Kavanaugh's nomination, 26 percent oppose. Perspectives Sen. Christopher Coons (D-Del.): What the FBI investigation into Kavanaugh must look like. Shan Wu: What to expect from the FBI investigation. Laurie L. Levenson and John T. Nockleby: How to judge Kavanaugh's credibility. Former Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.): First principles at stake in Kavanaugh fight. Anna North: How Kavanaugh's defenders misunderstand women's anger. Kristin Tate: Fate of the Republicans Party is tied to Kavanaugh, so don't flake on us. Robin Abcarian: Boohoo hoo. Kavanaugh is not a victim. Jenna Ellis: Women must stand up for Kavanaugh. Howell Raines: Kavanaugh hearings show GOP senators are sexist. | 
