There is some logic to this. All year, conservatives I know with at least an ounce of sanity have acknowledged that Trump is a disaster "but at least he got us Gorsuch." If the Kavanaugh nomination fails, it will look like Trump is too politically wounded to deliver a Supreme Court nominee anymore, which would increase the chance that Republicans who don't like his other nonsense might conclude that Pence would be better.
But on the other hand, it doesn't really make sense. Republicans are in too deep at this point to pull off a clean transition to Pence. If there was an actual Republican attempt to remove it, the Trumpies will fight back hard. Plus, if Kavanaugh fails because of his rapiness or perjury or whatever, it won't necessarily mean he could not deliver another different nominee through to confirmation.
There is a plausible argument that immediately dumping Kavanaugh to rush through another uber-conservative (using the lame duck session if the GOP loses the Senate) might be their best available scenario. It certainly would let them avoid the potential political minefield of next week's hearings over Kavanaugh's alleged sexual assault. Believe me, this is not the public spectacle they want 40-something days away from the mid-terms. But there is no chance that Trump would withdraw the Kavanaugh nomination, even if it would be his best move. He just doesn't have it in him.
But on the other hand, it doesn't really make sense. Republicans are in too deep at this point to pull off a clean transition to Pence. If there was an actual Republican attempt to remove it, the Trumpies will fight back hard. Plus, if Kavanaugh fails because of his rapiness or perjury or whatever, it won't necessarily mean he could not deliver another different nominee through to confirmation.
There is a plausible argument that immediately dumping Kavanaugh to rush through another uber-conservative (using the lame duck session if the GOP loses the Senate) might be their best available scenario. It certainly would let them avoid the potential political minefield of next week's hearings over Kavanaugh's alleged sexual assault. Believe me, this is not the public spectacle they want 40-something days away from the mid-terms. But there is no chance that Trump would withdraw the Kavanaugh nomination, even if it would be his best move. He just doesn't have it in him.
