Unlikely Obama will be given the opportunity to replace him so close to an election so yes, it will.
It’s going to get really crazy.
Presidential nominations for both parties will be defined by WHO they support for the Court.
Those Court Nominees, even if suggested in passing, will become targets of for a level of scrutiny and vicious attacks that will make Justice Thomas feel blessed.
It’s going to get crazy nasty real fast.
Unlikely? These are Republican senators here. Expedite is probably the operant word.