"Yes, Harriet. Harry Reid and Lindsey Graham called me this morning and those boys really got me to thinking. It's gonna be tough, I mean REALLY tough, to get anybody past that gang of 14 in the Senate. Any conservative I nominate who has a track record is going to die on the vine. I need to pick someone who doesn't have a track record, and that probably means someone who has never shown any interest at all in the Court, but who might think that it would be pretty cool."
"I don't understand, Mr. President."
"Harriet, I'm going to get right to the point. Harry Reid wants me to nominate you, and I think that's a pretty fine idea."
"Oooo! I'd LOVE to be on the Superior Court."
"Supreme Court."
"Whatever."
If you are inside the Beltway, the first and only question you ask about Harry Reid's support is how much pork for the state of Nevada that endorsement cost you. Answer is always in 8 figures.