Ayotte to lead White House team shepherding Supreme Court nominee

The White House has assembled a team of political veterans with deep experience navigating the Senate to help shepherd President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court.

Leading the effort will be former senator Kelly Ayotte, a relatively moderate Republican from New Hampshire, according to a senior White House official who detailed the assignments on the condition of anonymity.

Ayotte will serve as the nominee’s so-called sherpa, personally introducing the pick to senators and escorting him or her to meetings and the confirmation hearing. Ayotte, who narrowly lost reelection last fall, is an unlikely selection by Trump considering she spoke out against his candidacy and was seen as having been on a blacklist for appointments to the new administration.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to assist the administration with the confirmation process for the next conservative Supreme Court nominee,” Ayotte said.

See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/Washington-Post-Ayotte-to-lead-White-House-team-shepherding-Supreme-Court-nominee-01312017