2 key GOP senators voice opposition of a Supreme Court nomination before Election Day

WITH THE DEATH OF JUSTICE GINSBURG HAPPENING SO CLOSE TO A PIVITOL ELECTION - PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE SENATE RACE HERE IN MAINE BETWEEN SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS AND SARA GIDEON. NOT ONLY WAS IT ONE OF THE MOST-CLOSELY WATCHED RACES IN THE COUNTRY ALREADY BECAUSE THE BALANCE OF POWER COULD BE AT STAKE ... BUT W- M-T-W POLITICAL ANALYST JEANNE HEY SAYS COLLINS WILL BE WATCHED CLOSELY TO SEE WHAT SHE WILL DO IN THE SENATE WITH ANY POTENTIAL NOMINEE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. AND ADDING TO WHAT MAKES THE SITUATION SO UNIQUE -- IS THAT BOTH THE DEMOCRAT, GIDEON -- AND REPUBLICAN, COLLINS ARE ááPRO- CHOICE.áá áá03:30 THE REALLY CHALLENGING POSITION IS FOR SUSAN COLLINS. MUCH OF HER LOSS IN POPULARITY HAS ACTUALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT SHE VOTED FOR JUSTICE KAVANAUGH, WHOM MANY OF HIS CRITICS SAY IS GOING TO UNDERMINE ROE V. WADE. THIS PUTS HER EVEN MORE IN THE SPOTLIGHT, DOES SHE SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NOMIEE WHOEVER THAT MIGHT BE OR NOT --- AND ALL OF THAT WILL BE FILTERED THROUGH HER EYES ON TRYING TO BE RE-ELECTED YET AGAIN 04:05áá HEY TELLS US SHE DOESN'T EXPECT IT TO CHANGE MANY MINDS IN THE RACE, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT WAS ALREADY A TOP ISSUE IN THE CAMPAIGN ... JUST THIS WEEK A QUINNIPIAC POLL SHOWED LIKELY MAINE VOTE

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Sunday that she opposes taking up a Supreme Court nomination prior to Election Day, joining Sen. Susan Collins in voicing opposition to Senate movement on the matter before the 2020 election."For weeks, I have stated that I would not support taking up a potential Supreme Court vacancy this close to the election. Sadly, what was then a hypothetical is now our reality, but my position has not changed," he Alaska Republican said in a statement."I did not support taking up a nomination eight months before the 2016 election to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Justice Scalia. We are now even closer to the 2020 election — less than two months out — and I believe the same standard must apply."Murkowski did not address whether she will oppose President Donald Trump's nominee in a lame-duck session if Joe Biden wins the presidency.She joins another key GOP senator — Collins of Maine — in her opposition to taking up whomever Trump nominates to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's vacant seat before Nov. 3.Should two more Republican senators also say they oppose movement on Trump's forthcoming nominee, Democrats will have enough support to punt the nomination to the lame-duck session.Collins on Saturday also said she believes the Senate should vote on a Supreme Court nominee after the November presidential election.“Given the proximity of the presidential election, however, I do not believe that the Senate should vote on the nominee prior to the election," wrote Sen. Collins in a press release Saturday. "In fairness to the American people, who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one, the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd.”Sen. Collins also wrote that she would have no objection to the Senate Judiciary Committee reviewing the credentials of President Trump's nominee. “In order for the American people to have faith in their elected officials, we must act fairly and consistently — no matter which political party is in power," wrote Sen. Collins. "President Trump has the constitutional authority to make a nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, and I would have no objection to the Senate Judiciary Committee's beginning the process of reviewing his nominee's credentials."

"For weeks, I have stated that I would not support taking up a potential Supreme Court vacancy this close to the election. Sadly, what was then a hypothetical is now our reality, but my position has not changed," he Alaska Republican said in a statement.

"I did not support taking up a nomination eight months before the 2016 election to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Justice Scalia. We are now even closer to the 2020 election — less than two months out — and I believe the same standard must apply."

Murkowski did not address whether she will oppose President Donald Trump's nominee in a lame-duck session if Joe Biden wins the presidency.

AL DRAGO/AFP via Getty Images

Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing in Washington, DC, on June 30, 2020.

She joins another key GOP senator — Collins of Maine — in her opposition to taking up whomever Trump nominates to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's vacant seat before Nov. 3.

Should two more Republican senators also say they oppose movement on Trump's forthcoming nominee, Democrats will have enough support to punt the nomination to the lame-duck session.

Collins on Saturday also said she believes the Senate should vote on a Supreme Court nominee after the November presidential election.

“Given the proximity of the presidential election, however, I do not believe that the Senate should vote on the nominee prior to the election," wrote Sen. Collins in a press release Saturday. "In fairness to the American people, who will either be re-electing the President or selecting a new one, the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected on November 3rd.”

Sen. Collins also wrote that she would have no objection to the Senate Judiciary Committee reviewing the credentials of President Trump's nominee.

Susan Walsh/AP Photo

In this Jan. 15, 2020, photo, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington.

“In order for the American people to have faith in their elected officials, we must act fairly and consistently — no matter which political party is in power," wrote Sen. Collins. "President Trump has the constitutional authority to make a nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, and I would have no objection to the Senate Judiciary Committee's beginning the process of reviewing his nominee's credentials."

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