With cameras flashing, the nominee extends his or her hand to a senator and the two pose awkwardly for a photo.<\/b>
\nWASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Brett Kavanaugh\u2019s wooing of the Senate is part of a time-honored tradition, including awkward grip-and-grin photo ops and light conversation that skirts the contentious issues that lie ahead.
Here\u2019s what to watch for as Kavanaugh makes the rounds on Capitol Hill ahead of his confirmation hearing to become the next Supreme Court justice:
Soon after getting the president\u2019s blessing, every nominee will arrive on Capitol Hill and be ushered into select Senate offices to make nice.
The purpose of these private meetings isn\u2019t to smooth over differences just yet. It\u2019s to pay homage \u2014 or \u201ckiss the ring\u201d \u2014 of influential senators.
In Kavanaugh\u2019s case, helping him to navigate the Senate hallways is Jon Kyl, a retired senator and former Senate Republican whip whose job it once was to rally other GOP senators and count votes.
This week, his focus is on getting Kavanaugh face time with key senators and coaching him not to say anything that might sink his nomination.
It\u2019s a familiar tactic. In 2017, Trump\u2019s first Supreme Court pick, Neil Gorsuch, made the rounds with former Sen. Kelly Ayotte as his sherpa, who advisedthe affable candidate to \u201cbe yourself\u201d and talk about family and hobbies.
In other words, abortion or health care might be on everyone\u2019s minds, but this first week for Kavanaugh is about a single catch phrase: \u201cI look forward to the confirmation process.\u201d
Kavanaugh has already met with three Senate lions \u2014 Republicans Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley and Orrin Hatch, each of whom has served more than three decades (Hatch and Grassley were elected to the Senate before Kavanaugh finished high school).
As GOP Senate leader, McConnell, R-Ky., is the master kingmaker who will champion Kavanaugh\u2019s nomination on the floor.
Grassley, R-Iowa, is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who will set the tone for Kavanaugh\u2019s confirmation hearing.
And Hatch, R-Utah, is a former Judiciary chairman who has played a key role in past judicial nominations.
Also meeting with Kavanaugh is Sen. Lindsey Graham, a former military prosecutor who has become golf buddies with Trump, and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, whose job it will be as the Senate Republican whip to keep the GOP in line and ensure the simple majority vote that would confirm Kavanaugh.
A big part of this tradition is the photo op.
With cameras flashing, the nominee extends his or her hand to a senator and the two pose awkwardly for a photo.
The optics matter. The senators get to bill themselves as the kingmakers, while the nominee makes clear he or she respects the Senate\u2019s unique role of advice and consent.
But that\u2019s not to say it\u2019s easy.
While the politicians often appear at ease in the spotlight \u2014 most senators spend their lives in front of cameras or schmoozing with donors and voters \u2014 nominees can often appear stilted as they are forced to interview for a job with the whole world watching.
\u201cI was just counseled not to be nervous. That\u2019s almost impossible,\u201d said Justice Sonia Sotomayor in 2009 after President Barack Obama announced her nomination.
For his part, Kavanaugh played the role as expected this week.
He made the rounds in a conservative dark suit and blue tie, spoke little and smiled for the cameras, his perma-grin firmly intact.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n

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