The White House, in keeping with its promise of finding a suitable replacement to Justice Antonin Scalia, is likely to propose the name of Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval of Nevada, according to The Washington Post.
But even though Sandoval is a Republican, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to budge from his earlier stance of "no action" and said that the next nominee "will be determined by whoever wins the presidency in the fall." His views were seconded by Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, who said, "This is not about the personality," reports The Washington Post.
When asked to verify the nomination, a Sandoval spokeswoman said that "neither Gov. Sandoval nor his staff have been contacted by or talked to the Obama administration regarding any potential vetting for the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court," reports ABC News.
President Barack Obama, for his part, plans to suggest a person whom the Republicans can't oppose. "I recognize the politics are hard for them. I think the situation may evolve over time. I don't expect any member of the Republican caucus to stick their head out at the moment and say that, but let's see how the public responds to the nominee we put forward," Obama said, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Obama wanted to select "the best person to fill the vacancy at the Supreme Court. The president's focused on criteria that, frankly, is more important, and that is that individual's qualifications, and their experience and their view of the law. That will take precedence over any sort of political consideration," said White House press secretary Josh Earnest without disclosing whether Sandoval was indeed being considered, reports The Washington Post.
