> Alternatively, McConnell could have called the vote and the Republican majority in the Senate could have just voted it down. It can't be assumed that there w

> Alternatively, McConnell could have called the vote and the Republican majority in the Senate could have just voted it down. It can't be assumed that there wouldn't be Republican defections on a Garland confirmation. This is exactly the reason the majority leader refused to allow a vote. Even now, a number of Republican Senators have already "defected" and declared they won't vote on a nominee before the 2021 inauguration.