September 23, 2020 09:07 AM UTC

McConnell: Gardner Is Likely To Be "Key Vote" That Gets Supreme Court Nominee "Across the Finish Line"

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• by: Jason Salzman

(“Very, very loyal” – Promoted by Colorado Pols)

In an email to supporters this morning, U.S. Senate leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky wrote that Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner will “likely be a key vote that gets [Trump’s Supreme Court] nominee across the finish line when she comes up for a vote.”

Then McConnell asked for a donation to help Gardner win his November race against Democrat John Hickenlooper, so that Republicans will maintain control of the U.S. Senate.

McConnell wrote:

“Cory Gardner made a huge announcement Monday night. Cory will be sticking with the Majority and supporting President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. Cory will likely be a key vote that gets the nominee across the finish line when she comes up for a vote. But..the fight doesn’t stop once our nominee is on the Court. That’s just the beginning. Chuck Schumer has vowed that ‘nothing is off the table’ if they win the Majority in 2020. Court-packing, eliminating the filibuster, eliminating the Second Amendment, and any other radical idea Chuck dreams up will all be in play next year if we don’t defend our Majority. That’s why I’m asking you to support Cory Gardner today, and help us defend the Senate Majority this fall. There’s too much at stake….. Donate today to save the Republican Senate Majority!”

Gardner made it clear he will support a “qualified” Trump nominee for the Supreme Court.

“When a President exercises constitutional authority to nominate a judge for the Supreme Court vacancy, the Senate must decide how to best fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent,” wrote Gardner in a statement Monday. “I have and will continue to support judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, not legislate from the bench, and uphold the law. Should a qualified nominee who meets this criteria be put forward, I will vote to confirm.”

RELATED: Mitch McConnell Video Urges Republicans to “Step Up” for Cory Gardner

Democrats, who have criticized Gardner for his close ties to McConnell, blasted Gardner for refusing to even meet with Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court in 2016.

“I think we’re too close to the election. The president who is elected in November should be the one who makes this decision,” Gardner said at the time.

“We are deep in the heart of a political campaign, a divisive election, a divisive president, who has done nothing but overreached Congress time and time again,” Gardner added.