Republicans likely have enough support for a vote on Trump's Supreme Court nominee after Romney backs push to fill vacancy

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, announced Tuesday he would back a Senate vote to confirm a Supreme Court nominee to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat, signaling Republicans may have enough support to vote on Trump's pick before the November presidential election.

"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, citing historical precedent on Supreme Court nominees. "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."

Republican leaders have not presented a timeline yet for holding a vote to fill the vacancy, though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Monday on the Senate floor there was clear precedent for the Senate to hold a vote on a nominee "this year."

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the second-ranking Senate Republican, told Capitol Hill reporters Tuesday "it would be a good idea for us to move forward" on a vote before the Nov. 3 election, though the timing was ultimately up to McConnell.

Romney told reporters on Capitol Hill later Tuesday "my liberal friends have over many decades gotten very used to the idea of having a liberal court. And that's not written in the stars."

He said he would leave the timing of a nomination and the vote up to Republican leaders in the Senate.

Romney, a moderate Republican senator who has criticized Trump, was seen as a potential swing vote on the nomination.