Kavanaugh was probably seen by the administration as the least controversial of the list. One that could pick-up a Manchin, a Donnelly and possibly a Heitikamp vote. One that was acceptable to every R in the Senate. With 300 opinions, there were ones that some like and some that other liked. Again, he was going to be Kennedy's replacement, in more ways then one.
Almost all the D's announced that they were going to vote against WHOEVER Trump nominated. That's not how it's supposed to be done. It should be to see if they can faithfully follow the Constitution in deciding cases. Kagan, Sotomayor, Ginsburg, and Breyer were approved, even though everyone knew they would twist and bend it and even make things that that aren't in there.
But Judical Philosphy wasn't a factor in their approval. Just "Temperment" whatever that means...
I hope that if and when the D's finally do get nominations, there's a line out the capitol building of people with sexual harrassment claims...