Amy Coney Barrett is the least popular Supreme Court nominee in recent history

THE SUPREME COURT has in recent years gained an almost mythical status in American politics. With its extraordinary power—justices are appointed for life and have the final say on the meaning of the constitution, the supreme law of the land—politicians and activists alike view a nomination for the bench as the ultimate political accomplishment. That is why the likely confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump’s pick to fill the seat of late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, has the potential to upend the presidential race.

Ms Barrett’s Senate confirmation hearings began on October 12th with Americans sharply divided over her nomination. According to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS, a pollster, a large majority of Republicans (83%) want her confirmed, but only a tiny fraction of Democrats (8%) agree. Overall, more Americans oppose Ms Barrett’s confirmation (46%) than support it (42%). Indeed, according to polling data compiled by The Economist, net approval for Ms Barrett’s nomination, at minus four points, is lower than for any Supreme Court candidate in more than three decades. The only justice that comes close is Brett Kavanaugh, Mr Trump’s most recent nominee whose confirmation was plagued by allegations of sexual assault.