[Dave Briggs, Cnn Anchor:] A GOP source close to the nomination process tells CNN they are not sure they have the votes to push Kavanaugh across the finish line. But it's definitely close. CNN's Phil Mattingly reporting from Capitol Hill.
[Phil Mattingly, Cnn Congressional Correspondent:] Now, Christine and Dave, Republicans are moving forward. Obviously every one of them was staring with rapt attention at the hearing, just like pretty much everybody else in the country, to gripping testimony from both Christine Blasey Ford and from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. But after that testimony was over, more than eight hours, committee members sitting there, witnesses testifying, members, I'm told, back in their offices watching, Republicans still plan to move forward. They had a private meeting in the Capitol after the hearing to weigh their options going forward, for leaders to take the temperature of members, and they decided the Judiciary Committee will continue its plan to vote on Friday on the nomination. Now the key individual to watch on that committee, Senator Jeff Flake. He still is undecided. He still has not made up his mind. He told my colleague Kristin Wilson after the meeting today that he had more doubts than certainty about what was going to happen next. Even if they don't have the votes on the committee, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell telling members behind closed doors, I'm told, they're going to move forward to the floor. Right now a procedural vote is tentatively planned for Saturday at noon. So what does this all mean? Well, at this point in time, Republicans do not have the votes to confirm Brett Kavanaugh. Republicans could have the votes to confirm Brett Kavanaugh. There's a couple of Democrats who may vote with them as well but those votes haven't committed yet. So Republicans are basically taking a gamble. They're pushing forward with the president's support, with the vice president's support, taking what Brett Kavanaugh's testimony meant to them, at least, as a sign that it's time to push forward. Will it all work out? Well, we'll have to wait and see. We'll get our first sign at 9:30 when the Judiciary Committee meets guys.
[Romans:] All right. Washington and the entire country trying this morning to process Thursday's raw, emotional, wrenching testimony during more than four hours of questioning. We heard for the first time directly from Christine Blasey Ford. She told senators under oath there is no way this was a case of mistaken identity.
[Sen. Dick Durbin , Senate Judiciary Committee:] Dr. Ford, with what degree of certainty do you believe Brett Kavanaugh assaulted you?
[Christine Blasey Ford, Brett Kavanaugh's Accuser:] One hundred percent.
[Romans:] She grew emotional as she described the alleged assault in detail. At one point recalling her most enduring memory of the incident.
[Ford:] Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter, the uproarious laughter between the two and their having fun at my expense.
[Briggs:] During his afternoon testimony, Kavanaugh was visibly furious, blaming Democrats for turning the hearing into what he called a national disgrace.
[Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court Nominee:] This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit, fueled with apparent pent-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election, fear that has been unfairly stoked about my judicial record, revenge on behalf of the Clintons, and millions of dollars in money from outside left-wing opposition groups. This is a circus.
[Briggs:] Kavanaugh's anger softening at times as he, too, was brought to the verge of tears.
[Kavanaugh:] The other night, Ashley and my daughter Liza said their prayers, and little Liza, all of 10 years old, said to Ashley, "We should pray for the woman." It's a lot of wisdom from a 10-year-old. We mean we mean no ill will.
[Romans:] Senators quickly dug into their political trenches. Democrats hammering the nominee over his alleged behavior in high school and his failure to state whether he believes the FBI should reopen his background check.
[Durbin:] I'm asking about the FBI investigation.
[Kavanaugh:] There the committee figures out how to ask the questions. I'll do whatever. I've been on the phone multiple times with committee counsel. I'll talk to
[Durbin:] Judge Kavanaugh, will you support an FBI investigation right now?
[Kavanaugh:] I will do whatever the committee wants to
[Durbin:] Personally, do you think that's the best thing for us to do? You won't answer?
[Kavanaugh:] You know, look, Senator, I I've said I wanted a hearing and I've said I would welcome anything.
[Romans:] Republicans allowed a sex crimes prosecutor hired for the occasion to ask questions on their behalf. A few slammed Democrats for their line of questioning. Senator Lindsey Graham erupting afterward. He said his BS meter got pegged.
[Sen. Lindsey Graham , Judiciary Committee:] What you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold his seat open, and hope you win in 2020. You've said that, not me. This is the most unethical sham since I've been in politics.
[Briggs:] Wow. The second man Christine Blasey Ford says was in the room during the alleged assault is reaching out to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Judge Kavanaugh's high school friend Mark Judge sending a letter to the committee late last night. It reads, quote, "As a recovering alcoholic and cancer survivor, I have struggled with depression and anxiety. As a result I avoid public speaking. I do not recall the events described by Dr. Ford in her testimony." During the hearing, Ford told the committee it would help her to piece together her story if members could get more details from Judge. Republican chairman Chuck Grassley has refused to subpoena him.
[Romans:] All right. The American Bar Association is calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to halt the Kavanaugh confirmation hearing until the FBI completes a renewed background investigation. CNN has obtained a letter written by the Bar Association's president to the committee. It reads in part, "Each appointment to our nation's highest court as with all others is simply too important to rush to a vote. Deciding to proceed without conducting additional investigation would not only have a lasting impact on the Senate's reputation, but it will also negatively affect the great trust necessary for the American people to have in the Supreme Court." No one can claim the Bar Association is playing politics here. The organization gave Judge Kavanaugh its highest rating for the Supreme Court, well qualified. Kavanaugh even touted that rating yesterday at Thursday's hearing.
[Briggs:] Important point. Like the rest of us, President Trump was riveted to his television Thursday as this historic hearing played out. The president telling a group of Republican donors last night that it was brutal and hard to watch at times but in the end his embattled Supreme Court nominee made him proud. More now from Jeff Zeleny at the White House.
[Jeff Zeleny, Cnn Senior White House Correspondent:] Christine and Dave, President Trump waking up in a much better feeling about his Supreme Court confirmation battle. He is urging the Senate to take an urgent vote and do it quickly. A committee vote could come as early as today. Of course many Democrats are rejecting that. But take a look at what the president sent out moments after the hearing ended. He said this on Twitter, "Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest and riveting. Democrats' search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham. An effort to delay, obstruct and resist. The Senate must vote." Of course no mention in that statement about Christine Blasey Ford. That was someone the president was also watching testify very intently. And he called her testimony, I'm told, compelling. And he found her believable. That he clearly wanted to hear from Judge Kavanaugh. He wanted to hear some anger and push back from Judge Kavanaugh. That's exactly what Judge Kavanaugh gave him. I am told he prepared the opening the statement of the speech which really turned that hearing around with an audience of one in mind. President Trump. The judge was wanting to keep the president on board, did not want him to, you know, sort of lose faith in his nomination. And that, in turn, rallied the conservative base. So of course this is not a done deal at all. But as this week ends here at the White House, President Trump certainly feeling much better about his Supreme Court nominee than he has in more than a week Dave and Christine.
[Briggs:] All right, Jeff Zeleny, great reporting. Nearly 60 people arrested among the hundreds who took to the streets of Washington to protest Kavanaugh's nomination. Women's marches and other protests, most against Kavanaugh, some in support, took place in cities across the United States. Millions more of course watched the events unfold from their homes as others watched from airplanes and some from classrooms. A North Carolina teacher tweeted this photo, saying her advanced placement students were writing history while watching history. I'm not sure if that was a positive lesson or
[Romans:] You know, it's so interesting
[Briggs:] Or not.
[Romans:] The C-SPAN switch board overwhelmed yesterday with calls-in, people talking about their own abuse and harassment. The rape and incest hotline overwhelmed 147 percent I think increase in calls. So whatever happens on the political and judicial front, there is a
[Briggs:] Something comes from it.
[Romans:] There's a moment in America here where people are starting to talk. You know, Chris Wallace talked yesterday about from FOX News on the air, talked about his daughters pulling him aside.
[Briggs:] Yes, he did.
[Romans:] Say, Dad, guess what? These are the crappy things that we've seen and happened to us. Just kind of revealing to people that we should be talking about this.
[Briggs:] Let us know how you feel about it, @earlystart on Twitter. Ahead, "Murphy Brown" back on TV with a top secret cameo. More from Hillary Clinton's surprise appearance next.