Mike Braun: Joe Donnelly Made ‘Grave Mistake’ Opposing Brett Kavanaugh

Hoosier businessman Mike Braun charged in a statement on Friday that Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) made a “grave mistake” opposing Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

Sen. Donnelly announced on Friday that he will oppose Kavanaugh if it comes down to a full Senate vote. The Hoosier Democrat explained he will oppose Kavanaugh’s nomination because he believes there should be an investigation of California psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation that Kavanaugh attempted to sexually assault her when they were both in high school in the 1980s.

Braun charged that the Supreme Court nomination process “has been an embarrassment to our democracy.”

The businessman said Sen. Donnelly’s “liberal colleagues used uncorroborated allegations to create a media circus designed to smear and destroy Judge Kavanaugh’s reputation.”

Braun charged, “Donnelly’s decision to oppose President Trump’s highly qualified nominee is a grave mistake, but proves he is more concerned with standing with his liberal Democrat leaders than standing for Hoosiers. I continue to strongly support Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court.”

Donnelly faces a competitive race in a state that Donald Trump won by 19 points in the 2016 presidential election.

A Fox News survey released in September found that Braun, Donnelly’s Republican challenger, leads Donnelly in the Indiana Senate race –45 to 43 percent.

The survey also found that 29 percent of Hoosiers said a vote against Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court would make it less likely for them to support Donnelly in the fall midterm election, while 21 percent said they would support the Indiana Democrat, and 38 percent suggested it would not make a difference.

The poll also found that 54 percent of Hoosiers approve of President Trump’s job performance.

Daron Shaw, who conducted the Fox News poll, said, “This is a Republican state, and this seat is one of the most difficult that the Democrats are defending. Donnelly is even with suburban whites and manages to get 12 percent of Hoosiers who voted for Trump, yet he’s still down in the race right now.”