Story highlights Judges Neil Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman were the favorites for Trump's Supreme Court nomination

(CNN) In the end, Judge Thomas Hardiman only drove a few hours east of Pittsburgh.

"The reality is that to the best of my knowledge he never left the state of Pennsylvania," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Tuesday night after the announcement. "He never was in DC, nor did he ever leave the commonwealth."

The Trump administration was taking extraordinary measures to build suspense and keep the final selection for its Supreme Court nominee under wraps for as close to the announcement as possible. Hardiman and Neil Gorsuch, both federal appellate judges, were the established favorites.

Gorsuch got the nod at the White House Tuesday night, and it turns out Hardiman never made it to Washington.

White House sources acknowledged Tuesday night they left the impression with reporters that he was coming to Washington. Hardiman appeared to play along. One source said Hardiman was given the sense that there could be a spot for him should another vacancy open up.

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