as of thursday night , flake -- who also met earlier with fellow key votes republican sens .
when you have more time .
president donald trump and his aides were ebullient thursday as supreme court nominee brett kavanaugh defiantly rejected charges of sexual misconduct — a mood that reflected some relief after trump officials conceded that his accuser , christine blasey ford , offered a compelling performance in the first half of the day .
( cnn ) the senate judiciary committee will vote on whether to favorably recommend brett kavanaugh 's nomination to the supreme court as previously scheduled friday morning , though top gop senators did not know as of thursday night whether enough key republican votes had been convinced to confirm president donald trump 's nominee .
story continued below minutes after the committee adjourned thursday evening , trump wrote on twitter of his supreme court nominee brett kavanaugh 's testimony .
trump and senior officials were impressed by kavanaugh ’s combative defense before the senate judiciary committee , in which the trump nominee , alternating between fury and tears , called several misconduct charges against him a “ calculated and orchestrated political hit ” and “ national disgrace ” that had devastated his life and family .
 
kavanaugh 's supporters and critics are now closely watching a handful of key republican senators as they decide whether to support the nominee , following a day - long , blockbuster hearing that featured both kavanaugh and the woman who accused him of sexual assault .
the vote scheduled for friday morning means undecided gop members of the committee -- including arizona republican sen. jeff flake -- have just hours to publicly choose a side in a deeply polarizing political fight .