Campaign Spending, Death Penalty in Play With Supreme Court Opening
- Scalia's death creates potential for Democrats to shift court
- Republicans vow to block Obama from naming Scalia's successor
Obama, U.S. Senate Locked in Supreme Court Battle
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The death of Antonin Scalia could set off a U.S. Supreme Court realignment that reverses decisions touching major facets of American life including gun control, campaign finance reform, and consumer protections. A newly remade 5-4 majority might even consider outlawing the death penalty.
Those stakes help explain why Senate Republicans are vowing to block President Barack Obama from naming a successor to Scalia during the last year of Obama’s presidency. The clash sets up what promises to be an epic battle over the court’s future.