Republicans are digging in on Kavanaugh. Here’s why.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first allegation against Brett Kavanaugh left Republicans rattled and nervous. The second left them angry and ready to fight back.

The GOP punched back hard Monday, seeming to cast aside — for now — worries that the Supreme Court nominee could turn off female voters and sink their hopes of holding complete control of Congress following the November midterms.

Many GOP senators seemed to stiffen their resolve instead of peeling away from Kavanaugh.

The decision was based on the details of a new allegation.

Many Republicans dismissed a report published late Sunday in The New Yorker magazine as weak and unsubstantiated. And some Republicans worried that not doing enough to push Kavanaugh across the finish line would hurt their standing with the GOP base heading into the midterms.