WASHINGTON As Democrats cement their opposition to Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, its increasingly looking like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will have to go nuclear to get him confirmed. That is, change the Senate rules to require 51 votes, instead of 60, to advance a Supreme Court nominee.

On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) warned Republicans against going that route, saying that theyll regret it in the long term, and that the better option is to demand a more mainstream nominee from President Donald Trump .

Theyre acting as if a rules change is inevitable, like its their only choice if 60 senators dont agree Judge Gorsuch should be confirmed. Theyre wrong, Schumer said at a press conference. The answer is not to change the rules. Its to change the nominee.

Democrats argue that Gorsuch, currently a judge on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, is too beholden to corporate interests to be a fair Supreme Court justice. Progressive advocacy groups have been torching Gorsuch , too, highlighting his record of opposing reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, civil rights, workers rights, immigrants rights and environmental protections.

He was handpicked by special interests, is supported by special interests and has a record of siding with special interests, Schumer said. This is no down-the-middle, neutral judge.

But their criticisms havent slowed GOP momentum around Gorsuchs confirmation. His Senate vote is on track for Friday, April 7, and McConnell has exuded confidence that he will be confirmed.

We are optimistic that they will not be successful in keeping this good man from joining the Supreme Court very soon, McConnell said Tuesday.