When Sen. John McCain said last week that he would work to block any Supreme Court nominee a president Hillary Clinton would name, it raised some eyebrows. Republican senators pledged not to take up any nominee to fill the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat until after the election, but that stance expires January 20 (regardless of any lame-duck machinations).
When Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced the #NoHearingNoVote position, he argued that, given the nation’s polarization and that the next justice could swing the balance of the Supreme Court, this election-year vacancy should be filled by the people’s choice.
It was a principled position, but a controversial and risky one. Yet McConnell’s calculus has been borne out. Not only has his caucus stuck with it, but it seems the voters concerned about Republican “obstruction” wouldn’t vote GOP anyway. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley of Iowa has faced the brunt of the “do your job” attack and is pulling away in the polls—regardless of the negative Donald Trump effect. – READ MORE
