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| Amy Coney Barrett delivers statement on first day of supreme court nomination hearings – live | Amy Coney Barrett delivers statement on first day of supreme court nomination hearings – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The public should not expect courts to make policy decisions, Barrett says in opening statement, as first day of hearings concludes | The public should not expect courts to make policy decisions, Barrett says in opening statement, as first day of hearings concludes |
| A new pair of polls show Joe Biden leading in Wisconsin and Michigan, both of which Trump narrowly won in 2016. | |
| According to the New York Times/Siena College surveys, Biden leads Trump by 8 points among Michigan’s likely voters, 48%-40%. | |
| The Democratic nominee has an even larger 10-point lead among Wisconsin’s likely voters, 51%-41%. | |
| Trump won both Michigan and Wisconsin by less than 1 point in 2016. Even if the president loses both states on November 3, he can still secure a second term if he holds onto every other state he won in 2016. | |
| However, polls of other key battleground states -- such as Pennsylvania, Arizona and Florida -- indicate Trump is trailing there as well, leaving him an increasingly narrow path to reelection. | |
| Cindy McCain, the widow of John McCain, the late senator from Arizona who was the Republican nominee for president in 2008, has announced the death of Roberta McCain, her husband’s mother. | |
| “It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my wonderful mother-in-law, Roberta McCain,” Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter. “I couldn’t have asked for a better role model or a better friend. She joins her husband Jack, her son John and daughter Sandy.” | |
| Roberta McCain was 108. She was 106 when her son the senator died, aged 81, in August 2018. | |
| The AP has some more on Biden’s speech in Toledo, Ohio, and on Vice-President Mike Pence’s doings in the same key swing state today, ahead of his boss’s return to the campaign trail in Florida tonight. | The AP has some more on Biden’s speech in Toledo, Ohio, and on Vice-President Mike Pence’s doings in the same key swing state today, ahead of his boss’s return to the campaign trail in Florida tonight. |
| While Washington had its eyes on the Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearing, Joe Biden was speaking at a drive-in rally in Toledo, Ohio. The Associated Press reports: | While Washington had its eyes on the Amy Coney Barrett confirmation hearing, Joe Biden was speaking at a drive-in rally in Toledo, Ohio. The Associated Press reports: |
| The AP also reports that Biden’s press pack wasn’t with him in Toledo, after the press plane “had a malfunction and remained grounded in Wilmington, Delaware. Because Biden’s plane always takes off first, the candidate was already on his way to Ohio.” | The AP also reports that Biden’s press pack wasn’t with him in Toledo, after the press plane “had a malfunction and remained grounded in Wilmington, Delaware. Because Biden’s plane always takes off first, the candidate was already on his way to Ohio.” |
| To round off this post, I’m going to have some Fun With Polls. This is how fivethirtyeight.com has the averages at the moment, nationally and in some key battleground states. Note Ohio, where Biden is today: | To round off this post, I’m going to have some Fun With Polls. This is how fivethirtyeight.com has the averages at the moment, nationally and in some key battleground states. Note Ohio, where Biden is today: |
| National: Biden +10.5 | National: Biden +10.5 |
| Arizona: Biden +3.9 | Arizona: Biden +3.9 |
| Florida: Biden +4.5 | Florida: Biden +4.5 |
| Michigan: Biden +8.1 | Michigan: Biden +8.1 |
| Nevada: Biden +6.9 | Nevada: Biden +6.9 |
| North Carolina: Biden +2.9 | North Carolina: Biden +2.9 |
| Ohio: Biden +0.7 | Ohio: Biden +0.7 |
| Pennsylvania: Biden +7.2 | Pennsylvania: Biden +7.2 |
| Wisconsin: Biden +7.7 | Wisconsin: Biden +7.7 |
| Here’s our own battleground tracker: | Here’s our own battleground tracker: |
| Speaking to reporters, Amy Klobuchar acknowledged that Senate Democrats “don’t have any special procedural” strategy for stopping Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination. | Speaking to reporters, Amy Klobuchar acknowledged that Senate Democrats “don’t have any special procedural” strategy for stopping Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination. |
| Democrats acknowledge that it will be extremely difficult for them to block Barrett’s confirmation in the Republican-controlled Senate. | Democrats acknowledge that it will be extremely difficult for them to block Barrett’s confirmation in the Republican-controlled Senate. |
| But Klobuchar and Dick Durbin both expressed hope that Democrats’ questioning of Barrett over the next two days will encourage Americans to reach out to their Republican senators about her confirmation. | But Klobuchar and Dick Durbin both expressed hope that Democrats’ questioning of Barrett over the next two days will encourage Americans to reach out to their Republican senators about her confirmation. |
| Senate Democrats are now holding a press conference about Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination hearings. | Senate Democrats are now holding a press conference about Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination hearings. |
| The Democratic senators appeared before reporters wearing masks and holding posters of their constituents who have preexisting conditions. | The Democratic senators appeared before reporters wearing masks and holding posters of their constituents who have preexisting conditions. |
| The Democrats repeated their talking points from the nomination hearing, warning that Barrett’s confirmation to the supreme court would jeopardize the Affordable Care Act and threaten the healthcare coverage of millions of Americans. | The Democrats repeated their talking points from the nomination hearing, warning that Barrett’s confirmation to the supreme court would jeopardize the Affordable Care Act and threaten the healthcare coverage of millions of Americans. |
| The first day of Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination hearings has now concluded, after the supreme court nominee and every member of the Senate judiciary committee delivered opening statements. | The first day of Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination hearings has now concluded, after the supreme court nominee and every member of the Senate judiciary committee delivered opening statements. |
| Lindsey Graham, the Republican chairman of the committee, said the committee would reconvene for the first day of questioning tomorrow at 9 am ET. | Lindsey Graham, the Republican chairman of the committee, said the committee would reconvene for the first day of questioning tomorrow at 9 am ET. |
| Patricia O’Hara, the dean of Notre Dame Law School, virtually delivered a statement to the Senate judiciary committee. | Patricia O’Hara, the dean of Notre Dame Law School, virtually delivered a statement to the Senate judiciary committee. |
| O’Hara was supposed to introduce Amy Coney Barrett before the supreme court nominee’s opening statement, but she was having some technical difficulties. | O’Hara was supposed to introduce Amy Coney Barrett before the supreme court nominee’s opening statement, but she was having some technical difficulties. |
| O’Hara offered an unambiguous endorsement of Barrett’s qualifications, and she noted she previously sent a letter of endorsement for Justice Elena Kagan, who was nominated by Barack Obama. | O’Hara offered an unambiguous endorsement of Barrett’s qualifications, and she noted she previously sent a letter of endorsement for Justice Elena Kagan, who was nominated by Barack Obama. |
| In her opening statement, Amy Coney Barrett emphasized that it is not the responsibility of judges to legislate from the bench. | In her opening statement, Amy Coney Barrett emphasized that it is not the responsibility of judges to legislate from the bench. |
| “Courts have a vital responsibility to enforce the rule of law, which is critical to a free society. But courts are not designed to solve every problem or right every wrong in our public life,” Barrett said. | “Courts have a vital responsibility to enforce the rule of law, which is critical to a free society. But courts are not designed to solve every problem or right every wrong in our public life,” Barrett said. |
| “The policy decisions and value judgments of government must be made by the political branches elected by and accountable to the people. The public should not expect courts to do so, and courts should not try.” | “The policy decisions and value judgments of government must be made by the political branches elected by and accountable to the people. The public should not expect courts to do so, and courts should not try.” |
| Barrett said she was honored to be nominated to fill the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last month. | Barrett said she was honored to be nominated to fill the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last month. |
| “I have been nominated to fill Justice Ginsburg’s seat, but no one will ever take her place,” Barrett said. “I will be forever grateful for the path she marked and the life she led.” | “I have been nominated to fill Justice Ginsburg’s seat, but no one will ever take her place,” Barrett said. “I will be forever grateful for the path she marked and the life she led.” |
| Amy Coney Barrett opened her statement by thanking the Indiana senators who introduced her and the dean of Notre Dame law school, who was supposed to introduce Barrett virtually as well but was suffering some technical difficulties. | Amy Coney Barrett opened her statement by thanking the Indiana senators who introduced her and the dean of Notre Dame law school, who was supposed to introduce Barrett virtually as well but was suffering some technical difficulties. |
| Barrett then introduced her husband and each of their seven children, several of whom are present in the hearing room. | Barrett then introduced her husband and each of their seven children, several of whom are present in the hearing room. |
| Amy Coney Barrett has been sworn in for her supreme court nomination hearings. | Amy Coney Barrett has been sworn in for her supreme court nomination hearings. |
| Barrett is now delivering her opening statement to the Senate judiciary committee. | Barrett is now delivering her opening statement to the Senate judiciary committee. |
| Supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett was introduced by the two senators who represent her home state of Indiana, Todd Young and Mike Braun. | Supreme court nominee Amy Coney Barrett was introduced by the two senators who represent her home state of Indiana, Todd Young and Mike Braun. |