Senate Democrats are standing by Sen. Joe Manchin and former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen despite their support for Judge Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court as they continue to hold out hope that they could re-take the Senate majority in November.

Top Senate Democrats and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee indicated Saturday that they would support the two top candidates in deep-red states after Priorities USA, a top Democratic outside group that served as Hillary Clinton's primary Super PAC, revealed that they would not back either in the last month before the midterm elections. Victories by Manchin and Bredesen are viewed as vital for Senate Democrats as they hope to overcome a one-vote GOP majority.

"Absolutely," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., when asked if he continues to support the pair. "Let me just tell you that a Democratic majority in the Senate will avoid this kind of tragedy we just went through with the Supreme Court."

"That's their decision," Durbin said of the decision by Priorities USA.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., chairman of the DSCC, also indicated that the Senate Democratic campaign arm will continue to back the two candidates. He specifically cited the polls showing Manchin's strength back home, before indicating they will continue to play ball in the two states.

"We play to win," Van Hollen said, noting that Manchin is "comfortably ahead" in West Virginia.

Manchin declined to comment specifically on the group's decision not to make a play in the state, saying only that his decision did not derive from politics. He is slated to take on Patrick Morrisey, the state's attorney general.

"I'm just Joe Manchin from West Virginia. I swear to goodness I don't worry about any of the politics. This was not a political vote. I do not make political votes," Manchin said outside the Senate following his vote for Kavanaugh. "I could not react just because someone says they're going to vote for me or against me. I've never done that. I think people that know me — that doesn't work at all."

Bredesen announced that he would have voted for Kavanaugh shortly before Friday's procedural vote. He is pitted against Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., in November.

Some Democrats involved in campaigns believe that it is probably beneficial that the group isn't involved in the two states, given their ties to Clinton and that both states overwhelmingly voted against Clinton two Novembers ago.

While Priorities USA is out on the two, the Senate Majority PAC, a top outside group supporting Senate Democrats, said Friday that they plan to stay involved for the two candidates.

"Senate Majority PAC supports Phil Bredesen & Joe Manchin," said Chris Hayden, a spokesman for the group. "They are the only candidates with an independent record of getting results for Tennessee and West Virginia. They're both winning these races because of their record."

Despite feeling the wind at their back politically, Democrats still face a daunting map as they try to defend 26 seats compared with only nine for Republicans.