Scalia's Death Spurs Test of Political Will for Obama, Republicans
- McConnell says choice should be left to next president
- Democrat Reid argues for Obama to nominate replacement
Obama Praises Scalia, Vows to Nominate Successor
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The death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia 11 months before President Barack Obama leaves office, amid an already heated presidential campaign, sets up a titanic test of political wills with risks for both Republicans and Democrats.
Within an hour of the announcement on Saturday that Scalia died while vacationing in Texas, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared that “this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.” It was a stance that got the full-throated support from Republican presidential candidates.