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Chuck Todd Questions Whether Schumer Has Enough Votes for Gorsuch Filibuster, Cites Red-State Democrats

March 24, 2017

NBC's Chuck Todd asked Friday whether Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) has enough support to filibuster Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch's nomination, noting that red-state Democrats may vote for President Trump's Supreme Court pick.

MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell asked Todd whether Senate Democrats would attempt to filibuster Gorsuch's nomination after Schumer threatened to do so on Thursday. Todd answered Mitchell with a question of his own.

"Look, I am curious to see does Chuck Schumer have the votes?" Todd asked. "He made a threat on the floor of the Senate; does he have the votes?"

Todd went on to list some of the ten senators from red states that Trump won in 2016 who are up for reelection in 2018, arguing they are necessary for a potential filibuster but could find a political advantage in supporting Gorsuch.

If some of these red-state Senate Democrats join Republicans and vote to confirm Gorsuch, Schumer may not have the support to filibuster the nomination. Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) has said that he would not partake in a filibuster.

"If you're a red-state Democrat and you're looking for just something to show that you will vote on the other side of the aisle, the easiest thing to do and explain is Gorsuch," Todd explained. "I'm curious to see, does Schumer have the votes to force the filibuster. He may not."