This governor could have apologized, explained how that was no longer him, and he could survive this.
Kavanaugh could have said that he used to drink too much when he was young, and that he was ashamed of some of the things he did. He could have said that he did not remember that, but it could have happened since there are lots of things he does not remember (the notion that he never had memory losses when drunk is insulting - how could he know if there is something he doesn't remember?). And apologized. And people would have forgiven him.