President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE and White House staffers have started reaching out to key senators viewed as potential swing votes ahead of a high-stakes fight to install a new Supreme Court justice.

Trump met at the White House on Thursday with Democratic Sens. Joe Donnelly Joseph (Joe) Simon DonnellyHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Trump meets with potential Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett at White House Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court MORE (Ind.), Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinManchin defends Supreme Court candidate Barrett: 'It's awful to bring in religion' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump, GOP allies prepare for SCOTUS nomination this week Trump meets with potential Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett at White House MORE (W.Va.) and Heidi Heitkamp Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Centrists, progressives rally around Harris pick for VP 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents MORE (N.D.), who are all running for reelection this year in states Trump won in 2016.

The president also met with several crucial GOP senators who will be key to confirming a nominee to fill the forthcoming court vacancy created by Justice Anthony Kennedy's decision to retire, which is effective at the end of July.

"I had a good conversation with the president on a range of issues, including the Supreme Court vacancy ... When the president presents the Senate with his choice for the Supreme Court, I will thoroughly review the record and qualifications of that nominee," Donnelly said in a statement Thursday.

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Manchin said in a tweet that he and Trump had a "productive conversation about how we can work together to move [West Virginia] and our county forward."

I appreciate @realDonaldTrump inviting me to the White House tonight. We had a productive conversation about how we can work together to move #WV and our county forward. I look forward to more positive meetings. — Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) June 28, 2018

Heitkamp said in a statement on Thursday night that she and Trump had a "solid discussion" about the Supreme Court when they met.

“I stressed the importance of nominating someone to the Supreme Court who is pragmatic, fair, compassionate, committed to justice, and above politics — traits that match Justice Kennedy and which I know are important to North Dakotans. I told the president that he has a chance to unite the country by nominating a true non-ideological jurist," Heitkamp said “I stressed the importance of nominating someone to the Supreme Court who is pragmatic, fair, compassionate, committed to justice, and above politics — traits that match Justice Kennedy and which I know are important to North Dakotans. I told the president that he has a chance to unite the country by nominating a true non-ideological jurist," Heitkamp said

Heitkamp, Manchin and Donnelly all voted for Trump's first Supreme Court pick, Justice Neil Gorsuch, last year. Trump lashed out at Heitkamp during a rally in North Dakota this week, predicting she wouldn't support his eventual nominee to replace Kennedy even though she supported his first Supreme Court pick. Heitkamp appeared to reference Trump's remarks in her statement Thursday, saying "political speeches are just that."



"But the next day, I’m ready to get to work. As I said, if the president wants to meet with me, I’m ready to participate and advocate for North Dakota. And that’s exactly what happened today,” she added.

Collins said that the administration shouldn't "confine" themselves, while Murkowski, while speaking to The Washington Post, questioned "how we got so wedded to that list."

The outreach comes after Marc Short, the director of legislative affairs, told reporters that White House staff had begun talking on Thursday with key senators in both parties.