McConnell will not place a name for nomination unless he is certain of outcome

[karynnj]

22. I'm not sure there are many who will be harmed by voting - especially if the nominee, though

conservative, has no ethical baggage.

They are in red or at best, purple states. Many people were likely to vote for them to get conservative judges, even if they had problems with them otherwise. Collins, likely loses election whether she votes yes or no. Gardner is also in a purple state, but it might be more important to hold onto his base than be concerned with the middle, who are tough to predict. In the red states, it might even help the Republicans.

It stinks that they stole the 2016 seat, but they did and the short McConnell explanation is essentially, they did it because they could because they held the Senate. Now, because they eliminated the filibuster, they have the power to win this vote. They will argue that they are doing their Constitutional duty of advise and consent --- ignoring they refused to do that same duty for a year in 2016. However, in a highly partisan environment, they essentially are not concerned with looking consistent. In fact, they will likely argue that they are following their values.