The statement by Sen. Susan Collins is not a “no” vote against the nominee as the headline implies.
Collins confirms that Trump has the power to make a nomination and doesn’t object to the Judiciary Committee beginning work on the nominee.
Collins has some wiggle room in the second paragraph when she says she doesn’t believe the Senate “should vote on the nominee prior to the election” and that the decision “should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd”.
Remember that Susan Collins took a lot of crap for her vote for Justice Kavanuagh earlier. She is in the midst of a big re-election battle in Maine, and her statement gives her some wiggle room depending on how many votes McConnell can muster for whoever Trump nominates.
‘
If you’re looking for wiggle room, you’re ignoring the obvious, she thinks the next President should appoint the Justice.
‘