WASHINGTON _ Progressive groups are pushing to have Democrats block Judge Neil Gorsuch from the Supreme Court and say they could pay a price if they don't vote against him.
The groups announced the launch of a campaign called "The People's Defense" led by NARAL Pro-Choice America, MoveOn.org, CREDO, Indivisible, and the American Federation of Teachers.
"Any Democrat who votes to advance Gorsuch will have a permanent stain on their record," Murshed Zaheed, vice president and political director for CREDO said on a conference call with reporters.
Zaheed compared a vote for Gorsuch to Hillary Clinton's vote for the war in Iraq when she was a senator.
"We will hold them accountable to their constituents and to the Democratic base," he said.
Anna Galland, executive director of MoveOn Civic Action, said the Democratic base wants senators to oppose Gorsuch's confirmation.
A CNN/ORC poll from last month showed 76 percent of Democrats polled would support Senate Democrats' effort to block an up-or-down vote on Gorsuch. The same poll showed 61 percent of Democrats would like to see the Senate vote against Gorsuch.
"We literally broke the Guinness Book of World Records for the biggest conference call," she claimed.
Galland also said there could be political rewards for opposing Gorsuch's confirmation, claiming that Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., received more than $100,000 in small donations after announcing he would filibuster Gorusch.
"We believe every bad decision will be laid at the floor of any senator," said Ilyse Hogue. "We're keeping every option on the table."
But almost all of the activists held their tongue on potential consequences Democrats could face from their base if they move forward on Gorsuch's confirmation.
Zaheed used the example of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse voting to confirm CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who supports tactics considered to be torture.
"Three thousand people showed up at his town hall," and Whitehouse committed to opposing nominees, Zaheed said.
"It will haunt them for rest of their career," Zaheed said.
