The support of another senator in doubt makes it easier for Trump to approve his candidate for the Supreme Court before the elections

By Dartunorro Clark and Sahil Kapur - NBC News

Colorado Republican Senator

said Monday that he

Donald Trump's

to elect before the November elections the replacement of Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday at age 87 of complications from cancer of the pancreas.

Gardner is critical for Republicans to get enough votes to confirm a replacement on the Supreme Court.

Gardner, who is in a tough race for re-election, is a key vote.

Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, who is also in a tough battle for re-election, said they are opposed to accepting Trump's nomination to replace Ginsburg before the election.

[Voters for Biden and Trump believe that the death of Judge Ginsburg will change the election result.

But who benefits?]

"I have supported and will continue to support the judicial nominees who will protect our Constitution, will not legislate from the bench, and will defend the law. If a qualified candidate who meets this criterion is presented,

" the senator said in a statement.

That likely means that

before November 3, which is not enough to prevent the nomination from getting a positive or negative vote.

Several senators, in tough re-election battles, voiced their support for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in voting for Ginsburg's replacement this year: Gardner;

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst;

and South Carolina Senator and Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, who faces an unexpectedly competitive career.

Senator

, former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, reversed course on Monday, saying he

[Tension grows over the vacancy of Judge Ginsburg and Trump insists on "filling that place

"The Constitution gives the Senate that authority, and the voice of the American people in the last election could not be clearer," he said, referring to the fact that the Republican Party has won Senate seats in the 2018 elections.

She is Barbara Lagoa, the possible candidate of Trump to replace Judge Ginsburg in the Court

Sept.

22, 202002: 03

The

Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, who is undecided, is a heavily guarded vote.

Other Republican senators have no history of resisting their party on such a relevant issue, and it would be a surprise if any of them opposed McConnell.

The Republican Party has a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and even if Republicans lost three votes, Vice President Mike Pence can cast the tiebreaker vote to secure the nomination.

Ernst, who is a member of the Judiciary Committee, said Monday, "Once the president proposes his candidate for the Supreme Court, I will fulfill my duty - as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee - to evaluate the candidate for the highest court. of our nation. "

Both sides prepare for a grueling confirmation fight.

"We're going to have 44 more crazy days," said Charles Hellwig, a political consultant in North Carolina and former chairman of the Wake County Republican Party.

"Let's scream on both sides: The sky is falling, the world is going to explode, all these things."