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Donnelly supports Gorsuch nomination to Supreme Court

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly says he'll support the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Donnelly announced his support for the nomination by President Donald Trump on Sunday, calling Gorsuch "a qualified jurist who will base his decisions on his understanding of the law and is well-respected among his peers."

Donnelly says he made his decision after meeting with Gorsuch and reviewing his record.

"This isn't about I get the only pick, that I get to personally to pick the Supreme Court justice. I deal with the individual before us. My job as a senator is to reflect our state, to do my job. And when you look, he is qualifed," said Donnelly.

Donnelly faces a tough re-election battle next year. His support for Gorsuch joins that of two other moderate Democrats who are up for re-election in states Trump won: Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota.

The 49-year-old Gorsuch has served more than a decade as a federal appeals court judge based in Denver.

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