Senator Feinstein completely bungled her role in the Kavanaugh confirmation battle.
During the hearings, she was passive and didn't really fight in the manner that Dems and Californians want there to be a fight.
She "apologized" for protesters and was seen as overly cozy with the nominee and the Republicans throughout the proceedings...
And now this letter fiasco...
https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-sexual-misconduct-allegation-against-the-supreme-court-nominee-brett-kavanaugh-stirs-tension-among-democrats-in-congressDemocrats are livid that Feinstein didn't discuss the letter with committee members and support the woman who came forward with the allegations.
"A source familiar with the committee’s activities said that Feinstein’s staff initially conveyed to other Democratic members’ offices that the incident was too distant in the past to merit public discussion, and that Feinstein had “taken care of it.”"
This looks bad. Covering up an allegation of a woman who felt the need to step forward is not showing support and it does not help bring forth the truth.
The whole thing smacks for Democrats of the treatment of Anita Hill in 1992. And the Kavanaugh appointment is probably the most significant change in the Supreme Court since Clarence Thomas replaced Thurgood Marshall.
Republicans, meanwhile, think that the way Feinstein handled the situation was underhanded and sneaky. That she is supporting a smear of Kavanaugh and that she has handled the situation as a last-ditch dirty maneuver to harm the nominee.
This is very dangerous for Feinstein but I'm not sure KDL can use it to his advantage.
Feinstein's strength is (1) Northern California (2) Moderate Democrat (3) Feminists (4) Republicans (5) African-Americans
KDL has strength with (1) Southern California (2) Progressives (3) Latinos (4) Democratic Insiders.
This disaster has potential to undermine support by feminists for Feinstein while encouraging Republicans to switch sides and/or sit it out.
Meanwhile, Feinstein has decent support from African-Americans. Some like Maxine Waters have felt that she hasn't stood up enough to Trump and that could hurt her.
If Feinstein is unable to get good numbers from the GOP and key support groups are turned off by Feinstein's antics, she could be in trouble.
