This is big

NBC News has confirmed Andy Puzder is expected to withdraw his nomination for Labor Secretary.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 15, 2017

Andy Puzder has been the slow, wounded gazelle at the waterhole for a while. First there was his musings about not wanting the job, and then the inevitable story about an illegal alien employed as a domestic worker. Some of his previous stands have been criticized by conservative outlets:

“No to Puzder,” from National Review’s editorial board:

“Andrew Puzder was from the start an odd choice to head Donald Trump’s Labor Department. The chief of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of fast-food chains such as Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, Puzder has long been one of corporate America’s most high-profile advocates of Gang of Eight-style ‘comprehensive immigration reform’ … The case for his confirmation has diminished to the point of disappearing. Not only is Puzder a representative of the worst reflex of corporate America on one of Trump’s signature issues, he is now significantly weakened. We understand the impulse of the White House and the Senate to try to bulldog through rather than to give obstructionist Democrats a scalp. Yet, all the major Trump nominees have won their confirmation battles. The country, and the administration, can weather a re-do on this one.”

A little earlier today his fate was sealed.

EXCLUSIVE: Top Senate Rs have urged the WH to withdraw Puzder nomination. There are 4 firm no votes and up to 12, source says. Next on CNN

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 15, 2017

This despite the awesome Carl’s Jr. ads.

We will see if this is a one-off or if more of Trump’s nominees that require GOP solidarity in order to be confirmed also fall due to the weakness the administration has shown on the Mike Flynn affair.