Collins says she will vote 'no' on Supreme Court nominee before election

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Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said on Tuesday that she will vote against a Supreme Court nominee if one is brought to the Senate floor before the November election.

“My statement was a model of clarity. ... I made it very clear, yes, that I did not think there should be a vote prior to the election. And if there is one, I would oppose the nominee," Collins told reporters, when asked if she would oppose a nominee before the election.

Collins added that her decision was not based on who the nominee is — President Trump is expected to name his pick on Saturday — but because of the proximity of the election and the decision by Republicans in 2016 to refuse to move forward with Merrick Garland, then-President Obama's Supreme Court nominee.

"Not because I might not support that nominee under normal circumstances, but we're simply too close to the election, and in the interest of being fair to the American people -- and consistent, since it was with the Garland nomination," Collins said.

"The decision was made not to proceed, a decision that I disagreed with, but my position did not prevail. I now think we need to play by the same set of rules," she added.

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