The Dims see this as an opportunity to regain control of the Senate because they will yet again, with the media's help, be able to successfully depict the GOP as do nothing obstructionists placing party over country. They will play this for everything its worth and very likely be successful. If the GOP doesn't retain control of the Senate it really doesn't matter who replaces Scalia because as he proves these 80 year old justices are not going to last forever and there are going to be several vacancies in the next few years. The Dims are betting the GOP will take themselves out of the game by losing the the Senate over a single nominee.
Obama wants Lynch but he wont nominate her the first time around instead he will chose someone like Sri Srinivasan who sits on the DC and was approved 97-0 just a couple of years ago. How can Cruz and every other Republican Senator suddenly claim he is unqualified and vote him down. It may play well here but its not going to play well in those 8 states that Obama carried, virtually assuring the GOP loses the Senate and any chance to stop the Libs from packing the Court in the next few years with Liberal judges that will be there for at least 2 generations.
So next January, Obama will nominate Lynch and Chuckie Schumer, your new majority leader, will will take up the nomination in the next Congress and she's Scalia’s replacement irregardless of who is elected president.
GOP is going to cave. Cruz will strut about the Senate floor to no effect. We’ve seen this beltway theater performance before. It has a bad ending.
From the little I've read, Srinivasin seems like a politically neutral, highly accomplished jurist. Anyone know different?