Trump Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation likely on Monday

The US president, who is trailing in polls, said he wanted Ms Barrett to be confirmed before the November 3 election

Judge Amy Coney Barrett tests her microphone after it failed several times during the third day of her Senate confirmation hearing to the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, US. Reuters

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, arrives as Republicans work during a rare weekend session to advance the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, at the Capitol in Washington. AP Photo

A protester opposed to the Senate's race to confirm Amy Coney Barrett is removed by police after chaining themselves to a railing and holding a sign while sitting atop the statue Contemplation of Justice, at the Supreme Court building in Washington. AP Photo

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, leaves the chamber after a procedural vote to advance the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, at the Capitol in Washington. AP Photo

Rep. Bill Cassidy, left, and Rep. Kevin Cramer, arrive for votes during a rare weekend session to advance the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, at the Capitol in Washington. AP Photo

Sen. Susan Collins, arrives for votes during a rare weekend session to advance the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, at the Capitol in Washington. AP Photo

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, arrives to meet with other Senate Republicans during a rare weekend session to advance the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, at the Capitol in Washington. AP Photo

Sen. Kelly Loeffler, and other Senate Republicans arrive for a rare weekend session to advance the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, at the Capitol in Washington. AP Photo

From left, Sen. Roger Wicker, Sen. James Lankford, and Sen. Richard Burr, arrive for votes during a rare weekend session to advance the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, at the Capitol in Washington. AP Photo

Sen. John Kennedy, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, arrives for a rare weekend session to advance the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, at the Capitol in Washington. AP Photo

In this image from video, the vote total in the US Senate to advance the nomination of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett for a final confirmation vote at the US Capitol in Washington. AP

A divided US Senate on Sunday narrowly advanced President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, setting up her contentious but certain final confirmation on Monday, only eight days before the presidential election.

In a rare weekend session, the Senate's Republican majority overcame a filibuster by Democrats, and Ms Barrett's nomination cleared a procedural hurdle, 51 votes to 48, to limit debate on Mr Trump's nominee.

Ms Barrett's nomination process, which would essentially lock in a 6-to-3 conservative majority on the high court, has moved with uncommon speed.

Mr Trump, who is trailing in polls against his Democratic challenger Joe Biden, said he wants the 48-year-old Ms Barrett confirmed before the November 3 election and in place in the event the court has to hear an election-related challenge.

Two Republican senators, Susan Collins who faces a tough re-election fight in Maine, and Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, voted against moving forward after saying in recent weeks that they opposed confirming a justice so close to a presidential election.

But in a turnabout on Saturday, Ms Murkowski told colleagues that even though she opposed her fellow Republicans' rush to fill the seat vacated by the liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she would ultimately vote to confirm Ms Barrett, given that there was no chance of blocking the process.

"Frankly," she said, "I lost that procedural fight."

Ms Murkowski said that while she does "oppose" the exceedingly rapid process that led to Ms Barrett's nomination, she does "not hold it against her as an individual" and will vote for her confirmation.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell prioritised the confirmation process over all other Senate business, including a new bill to provide relief to millions of Americans, and companies and local authorities hit hard by the coronavirus.

Democrats have issued a warning that Ms Barrett would end up voting to gut Obamacare, which has helped millions of Americans gain health insurance, and perhaps overturn Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 decision protecting abortion rights.

Chuck Schumer, the Senate's top Democrat, on Sunday called the push to confirm a justice so close to an election a "travesty" and "an in-erasable stain on this Republican majority forever more."