But as in many swing districts, the energy about voting in November’s midterm elections has been higher among Democrats. Interviews reflected that; Democrats said that the way Republicans in the Senate had responded to Dr. Blasey’s allegations — refusing her calls for an F.B.I. investigation, and trying for a quick vote on the nomination — had stoked the passion of local activist groups. No one invoked Anita Hill, whose allegations of sexual harassment against Clarence Thomas in 1991 might seem a parallel to Dr. Blasey. Several people, though, raised the example of Merrick B. Garland, whose Supreme Court nomination by President Barack Obama was stymied by Senate Republicans who refused to hold hearings for him.

Source: New York Times September 21, 2018 15:58 UTC