Judge Amy Coney Barrett has emerged as President Donald Trump's overwhelming favorite to replace the Supreme Court Justice, according to several people familiar with the deliberations, who say the President's view was solidified during a lengthy meeting at the White House on Monday.
Barrett currently sitting on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago -- is his clear front-runner and is viewed inside the White House as the likely nominee.
The President announced Tuesday morning that he will announce the pick Saturday at the White House.
A source familiar with Trump's private conversations told that one of his confidants on this issue told him that this pick is so important to not only his legacy but his re-election bid that she will effectively "be your new running mate."
Officials said Trump seemed very enthusiastic about Barrett after their meeting, which lasted for several hours. He told people afterward he believes Barrett will be very well received by "his people," one official said.
While no one close to the process would go so far as to say Barrett is the pick, Trump is giving people the impression he is completely sold on her.
The White House may still schedule a meeting with Lagoa, but two sources said her chances have dimmed significantly since the weekend.
On Monday, Trump initially said he was considering five names for the high court vacancy before adding he was really focused only on "one or two" names.
Others on the list -- including federal appeals court judges Joan Larsen and Allison Jones Rushing, and deputy White House counsel kate Todd -- are not considered serious contenders, particularly after it was learned inside the White house that Larsen volunteered for Joe Biden's 1987 presidential campaign.
Trump has said the end-of-week timing for the pick was meant to show respect for Ginsburg, who will lie in repose at the Supreme Court on Wednesday and Thursday before a private interment at Arlington National Cemetery next week. But the President is also keen on extending the dramatics of his selection, likening it to his version of a running mate selection during an election year, according to one adviser.
Trump plans to make his announcement during a prominent prime time address, as he did for Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh earlier in his term, according to the adviser.
In the past, the President has reveled in the drama of the moment -- including orchestrating an attempt to convince the media he had selected Thomas Hardiman instead of Gorsuch in 2018 by having Hardiman leave his house and drive toward Washington.
Now that GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah has signaled that he is on board with moving ahead with a vote ahead of the election it all but ensures any nominee put forward will be confirmed barring any potential missteps by the nominee during the confirmation process.
Source: Free Republic
