Collins’s Kavanaugh vote becomes key weapon for opponents

Democrats and reproductive rights groups are zeroing in on Sen. Susan Collins’s (R-Maine) vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh as a pillar of their campaign to oust her, arguing she paved the way for the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

On Friday, Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson released an ad blasting Collins for voting to confirm Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, who also voted to overturn Roe. The Kavanaugh confirmation carries greater political baggage because Collins was the deciding vote after dramatic hearings that involved claims of past sexual abuse. 

In a social media video posted Friday, Jackson said, “Let’s put this idea that Susan Collins is pro-choice, you know, completely behind us.” 

“That ship has completely sailed if she ever was. I mean, Kavanaugh’s certainly shown that’s something that she was willing to do,” said Jackson, also pointing to her vote this summer to confirm Erica Schwartz to be director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Jackson was referring to Schwartz’s remarks during her Senate confirmation hearing in which she told Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) that “abortion surveillance is absolutely a critical component of what the CDC is currently doing.”  

Before he stepped out of the race, former Democratic candidate Graham Platner also attacked Collins for voting for Kavanaugh. A 15-second ad, titled “Wrong on Kavanaugh,” accused Collins of lying when she promised to protect Roe. 

Now, Jackson has picked up the same line of attack and has gathered major reproductive rights organizations behind him. Reproductive Freedom for All and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund have endorsed Jackson in the race, with the latter calling........

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