Sen. Bob Casey will oppose Trump Supreme Court nominee Gorsuch

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) will oppose President Trump's first Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, eliminating one target who Republicans hoped they could convince to cross party lines.

In a call with reporters Thursday morning, Casey said he will vote against Gorsuch's confirmation and, perhaps more critically, will also vote to sustain a Democratic filibuster -- the procedural hurdle that would require the nominee to secure 60 Senate votes for his confirmation to move ahead. Democratic leaders are vowing to hold Gorsuch to that standard.

Republicans have 52 Senate seats, so will need to secure at least eight Democratic votes to advance the nominee, unless they unilaterally change Senate rules.

"I don't believe that Judge Gorsuch, his judicial approach, would ensure fairness for workers and families in Pennsylvania and indeed across the country and I will not support his nomination," Casey said.

As for maintaining a 60-vote benchmark, Casey said that anyone hoping to obtain the influence a Supreme Court justice has "ought to be able to rack up 60 votes."

He had long said he had major concerns over Gorsuch, but declined to take a definitive stand before this week's confirmation hearings. After President Trump won Pennsylvania last year, Republicans had hoped to pressure Casey to support Gorsuch. They vowed to make the high court pick an issue in Casey's reelection next year.

"By opposing Judge Neil Gorsuch, Bob Casey is aligning himself with the far left instead of honoring the will of Pennsylvania voters. Pennsylvanians will remember Casey's betrayal when they head to the polls in 2018," said a spokesman for Republicans' national Senate campaign arm said after Casey's announcement.

Casey, long known as a mild-mannered moderate, has in recent months taken to strident opposition to Trump and has strongly embraced a number of more liberal positions.

Fellow Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican, has said he is "absolutely a 'yes' vote" for Gorsuch, barring any shocking revelations.

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