WV-Sen: Joe Manchin meets with SCOTUS nominee Kavanaugh, gives no hint whether he'll vote to confirm

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D) spent two hours meeting with President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh Monday, Politico reported.

Manchin called the meeting "productive" but provided no hint to whether or not he would support Kavanaugh's nomination. He was the first Democrat to meet with the nominee.

"I will not make a final decision on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination until I complete a thorough and fair examination of his candidacy in order to decide whether he should hold the position of Associate Justice on the highest court in the land, just as I did with Neil Gorsuch," Manchin said in a news release sent to TheBlaze.

The senator, whose vote on Kavanaugh is considered crucial, is under intense pressure from the leadership of both parties. He's also taking heat back home from voters in traditionally Republican West Virginia and from Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the GOP Senate nominee who is challenging Manchin in the midterms.

Manchin is one of three Democrats who voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch last year.

What happened at the meeting?

Manchin said in the news release that he talked with Kavanaugh "about his experience, record and a variety of issues that will impact West Virginians, including his views on health care."

After the meeting, Manchin told reporters he would likely hold a second meeting with Kavanaugh after the Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing, Politico reported.

The red-state Democrat will likely be keeping his mouth shut as long as possible while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) tries to thwart the president's nominee.

“All Chuck ever says in caucus [meetings], it’s pretty well known: ‘Keep your powder dry. Don’t commit. Stay as neutral as you can, as long as you can,’” Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told Politico. “It gives him some room to maneuver.”

What did Morrisey say?

Morrisey said he believes Manchin has fallen in line with Schumer's strategy by holding out support for Kavanaugh.

"Sen. Manchin needs to quit waffling and support President Trump's Supreme Court nominee. Clearly, Sen. Manchin is holding out his support for Judge Kavanaugh in order to assist liberal Chuck Schumer’s obstructionism," Morrisey said in a release to TheBlaze.

Morrisey has accused Manchin of creating false and misleading litmus tests for SCOTUS nominees on issues such as abortion and Obamacare.

"The men and women of West Virginia cannot count on Sen. Manchin to do the courageous thing and support Kavanaugh now. Instead, they can count on Sen. Manchin making a craven political calculation once the outcome has already been decided," Morrisey said.