Unlike Trump, Pence is wary of nuking Gorsuch through Senate

Disagreeing with comments President Trump made earlier on Wednesday, Pence told PBS “Newshour” anchor Judy Woodruff that he is “hopeful that it doesn’t” come to using that Senate rule to fast-track the judge’s approval.

“I do believe that once members of the Senate in both parties have a chance to sit down with Judge Gorsuch, we’re gonna see the same level of bipartisanship,” Pence said, referring to how Republicans did not filibuster former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama’s Cabinet picks in each of their first terms.

Pence is already “very heartened” to see seven Democrats who have said Gorsuch deserves an up or down vote. The Washington Examiner’s whip count currently has Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota opposing the filibuster, while Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Jon Tester of Montana and Dick Durbin of Illinois want a vote to take place.

The White House has planned meetings for Gorsuch with all 100 senators in an effort to address each lawmaker’s potential concerns with Trump’s pick.

On Wednesday, Trump urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to use the “nuclear option,” which allows the GOP to confirm Gorsuch with 50 votes plus Pence’s tie-breaking vote rather than the 60 that are necessary under the current rule.

Following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia last February, Republicans indicated they would not consider Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland as a replacement. Pence defended the GOP-controlled Senate’s 2016 stance.

“It was a vacancy in an election year, and I think it’s important to remember that the court itself, the federal government itself, belongs to the American people,” Pence said.

Voters allowed the GOP to maintain its House and Senate majorities last year, giving Republicans in the upper chamber the upper hand in this confirmation.