Mitt Romney backing of Supreme Court vote paves way for election-year confirmation

GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah signaled on Tuesday that he is on board with the Senate's taking up a new Supreme Court nominee during the current election year, an announcement that all but ensures a nominee put forward by President Donald Trump will be confirmed barring any potential missteps by the nominee during the confirmation process.

"The historical precedent of election year nominations is that the Senate generally does not confirm an opposing party's nominee but does confirm a nominee of its own. The Constitution gives the President the power to nominate and the Senate the authority to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees," Romney said in a statement. "Accordingly, I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the President's nominee. If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications."

With momentum from their conference behind a quick vote, GOP leaders are now making clear they are pressing ahead to get the nomination confirmed before Election Day, which would amount to one of the quickest proceedings in modern times. And it comes despite Senate Republicans' refusal to move on Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to a seat in 2016 when they said his choice -- eight months before November -- was too close to the elections.

Senate Majority Whip John Thune told CNN on Tuesday, "I think it would be a good idea to move forward." He said the timing is not nailed down yet and Republican senators will discuss it at lunch Tuesday.

Currently, there are 53 GOP senators -- meaning Republicans can only lose three votes to advance the nomination if Vice President Mike Pence stepped in to cast a tie-breaking vote.

So far, only two Republicans -- Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins, who is facing a competitive reelection fight in Maine -- have voiced opposition to taking up whomever Trump nominates to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's vacant seat before November 3.