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Demonstrators gather outside of the U.S. Supreme Court after President Donald Trump announced Neil Gorsuch as his nominee to the Supreme Court on Jan. 31. | Getty

By Elana Schor

03/09/17 01:10 PM EST

Updated 03/09/17 04:10 PM EST

Liberal groups on Thursday launched a coordinated campaign to stoke Senate Democratic opposition to President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, including planning a nationwide "day of action" on April 1.

The liberals' campaign, dubbed "The People's Defense," comes as activists prepare to make resistance to Judge Neil Gorsuch one of the top issues propelling millions of protesters into the streets since Inauguration Day. Senate Democrats have already responded to the growing energy of their base by mounting a historic blockade of Trump's most contentious Cabinet nominees, and liberal groups aim to add Gorsuch to the list.

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"What we're experiencing is a genuine gathering of massive energy across the country to say, we cannot allow someone handpicked by Donald Trump" to win a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, said NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue, whose pro-abortion-rights group is leading the anti-Gorsuch effort.

Hogue told reporters that she's "hearing a lot of 'He's a really nice guy'" responses to Gorsuch, who has benefited from positive meetings with several Democratic senators whose votes would be necessary to mount a successful filibuster of his nomination.

"That's way too low a bar for a jurist of the highest court of the land," Hogue added. "What we need to be focused on is his record."

The liberal groups hinted at their forthcoming efforts in a Monday letter, first reported by POLITICO, which urged Senate Democrats to "do better" in opposing Gorsuch.

Advocates described the anti-Gorsuch effort in a news release as "a hub of action to leverage the unprecedented grassroots activism that has been created by the Trump Administrations agenda and direct it towards defeating the Gorsuch nomination."

Among other left-leaning groups involved in the new campaign are the Center for American Progress Action Fund, CREDO Action, MoveOn.org Civic Action, the Service Employees International Union, the American Federation of Teachers, End Citizens United, EveryVoice, and Stand Up America.

Also helping roll out the anti-Gorsuch campaign on Thursday was Indivisible, the group founded by former Democratic congressional aides that has fast become a key player in teeing up tense town-hall confrontations between Republican lawmakers and their constituents. In a note to its supporters, Indivisible advised them to prepare for "a national day of action" against the nomination on April 1.

Conservative groups have already kicked off a multi-million-dollar TV ad campaign promoting Gorsuch and dismissed Thursday's announcement.

"These liberal activist groups have been totally ineffective in tarring Judge Gorsuch, and this desperate Hail Mary of a campaign won't change a thing," said Jeremy Adler, spokesman for the conservative advocacy group America Rising Squared. "Every day that goes by sees new and strengthening support for Judge Gorsuch from across the political spectrum because his credentials and record as a fair, thoughtful jurist are unimpeachable."

Hogue said that liberal groups are not planning TV ads but are instead aiming to match right-leaning groups' financial muscle with grassroots firepower.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday that he expects the chamber to approve Gorsuch early next month, before senators leave Washington for a planned two-week recess on April 8.

Read the rest here:
Liberals launch new anti-Gorsuch campaign - Politico