A new ad released by the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) encourages Americans to call their senators in support of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Opening with images of each of the court’s liberal justices, the ad issues a warning to viewers.
"Four liberals on the Supreme Court would take away your right to self-defense," the ad says. It then cuts to Justice Stephen Breyer saying the Second Amendment does not mean "the right of an individual to keep a gun next to his bed."
The ad proceeds to juxtapose images of the court’s four liberal and four conservative justices. "Four liberal justices oppose your right to self-defense," the narrator says while displaying pictures of Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan.
"Four justices support your right to self-defense," the narrator says while featuring images of Justices John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch. "President Trump chose Brett Kavanaugh to break the tie. Your right to self-defense depends on this vote."
The ad is part of a seven-figure national and regional campaign launched by the NRA in support of President Donald Trump’s nominee. Besides a national ad, NRA-ILA has also released spots in Alabama, Alaska, Indiana, North Dakota, and West Virginia.
Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA-ILA, said Kavanaugh "will protect our constitutional right to keep and bear arms. It’s critical that all pro-Second Amendment voters urge their senators to confirm Judge Kavanaugh."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) has vowed to oppose Kavanaugh’s confirmation with "everything [he's] got." Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) called Kavanaugh a "conservative ideologue instead of a mainstream jurist," and said she would oppose him.
In order to stop Kavanaugh’s nomination, Democrats will have to convince at least one Republican senator to join them. Democrats are targeting two moderates, Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska).
It is also unclear if every Democrat will oppose Kavanaugh. Several Democratic senators are up for reelection in states Trump won in 2016, and they could face a backlash at the polls if they oppose the president’s nominee.
When asked if Schumer could sway his vote, Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) responded, "I'll be 71 years old in August; you're going to whip me? Kiss my you know what." Sens. Joe Donnelly (Ind.) and Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.) also said they would not be pressured by Schumer.