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Article snippet: MORE is closing in on choosing a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, setting the stage for a fierce confirmation battle in the Senate. Many aides inside the West Wing feel excited about the Supreme Court pick, viewing it as a chance for Trump to score a victory that could energize his beleaguered team. The president is making his second high court nomination in just two years, something those around him believe could leave a lasting legacy. Administration officials are preparing rollout plans for “several” nominees ahead of Trump’s made-for-TV announcement on Monday night at 9 p.m., according to a person familiar with the process. Officials hope to finalize the plan as late as possible to avoid the possibility of a leak, the person said. “Another historical day ahead at the @WhiteHouse on Monday at 9:00pmE — when President Trump announces his #SCOTUS nomination from the East Room! #HISTORY,” Trump’s social media director, Dan Scavino, tweeted Friday. Trump has said he narrowed his short list down to two or three contenders amid an intense lobbying campaign by outside groups seeking to influence his choice. One source close to the White House said federal appeals court judges Brett Kavanaugh, Raymond Kethledge and Amy Coney Barrett have risen to the top of Trump’s short list. Trump’s choice has been hotly debated within conservative legal circles, since the next justice could tip the ideological balance of the court toward conserva... Link to the full article to read more