Embattled Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte is two months away from being past New Hampshire's primaries, two months away from being able to safely buck Mitch McConnell and a rabid bunch of far-right groups biting at the heels of any Republican who might waver from the Supreme Court blockade. But she's also running in New Hampshire, which re-elected Barack Obama in 2012 with a comfortable six-point margin. She can't look like she's being a totally obstructionist Republican, so she's going for something in between.
"I will meet with the president’s nominee out of courtesy and respect, and I also plan to explain my view that the people should have a voice in this important nomination through their votes in November," Ayotte said in a statement on Monday. Ayotte originally ruled out meeting with a theoretical nominee, but upon Garland's nomination she decided she would hold a meeting with him if only to explain why she does not believe he should be confirmed this year.
Yeah, that should work. And I'm sure all it will take is Ayotte explaining this to him to make him withdraw his nomination.
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