WASHINGTON: The US Senate on Friday narrowly approved moving to a final vote on President Donald Trump’s embattled Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh, but his fate remained in the balance as key Republicans appeared still undecided.

The Senate voted 51-49 to approve the conservative jurist, who has faced allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to his teenage years, in the procedural cloture vote, setting up a final showdown on Saturday. But the outcome remains uncertain, after one Republican, Lisa Murkowski, voted against moving ahead, while a Democrat, Joe Manchin, cast his ballot in favour.

Still another Republican senator, Susan Collins, appeared to remain undecided, supporting the cloture vote but saying she would not reveal where she finally stands on Kavanaugh until Friday afternoon. President Donald Trump cheered the result of the cloture vote, which puts him a key step closer to a major political victory for conservatives.

“Very proud of the US Senate for voting ‘YES’ to advance the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh!” Trump tweeted.

Except for Murkowski and Manchin, the vote proceeded along party lines. To gain final approval Republicans cannot afford to lose more than one of their senators in Saturday’s test.

If he wins approval, Kavanaugh — who has faced a bruising nomination process which raised questions over his candor and lifestyle as a young man — will seal a conservative majority on the nine-seat high court for many years to come.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2018