Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that the Senate will not consider any nominee to replace Justice Antonin Scalia until after the next president is inaugurated in January. McConnell, a Republican who has clashed with President Obama throughout his presidency, stated that he will not even meet with the nominee chosen by Obama. According to the US Constitution, the Senate has the authority to approve or reject the president's Supreme Court pick. With the presidential election approaching on Nov 8, Republicans are hoping to give the next president, potentially a Republican, the opportunity to fill Scalia's seat. McConnell stated that the nomination for the Supreme Court vacancy will depend on the winner of the presidential election in the fall. Senate Republicans overwhelmingly believe that the current president should not fill this position. If Obama's nominee is approved, it could shift the court to the left for the first time in many years, as there are currently four liberal and four conservative justices. This situation has sparked a fierce battle similar to the contentious nominations of Robert Bork in 1987 and Clarence Thomas in 1991 by Republican presidents. Obama has not yet revealed his choice for the position. The White House and Senate Democrats criticized McConnell's position, with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid describing it as extreme obstruction. Reid lamented the lack of compromise and reasoned dialogue in politics. McConnell and other Republican lawmakers have consistently opposed various Obama administration policies, such as the healthcare law, Iran nuclear deal, immigration policy, and climate change efforts. McConnell referenced a previous statement made by Vice President Joe Biden to support his argument for not taking action on Supreme Court nominations. McConnell pointed out that in 1992, Biden, while serving as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, had advocated for delaying the consideration of Supreme Court nominees during an election year. Biden later clarified that he was speaking hypothetically since there were no vacancies at the time. McConnell's decision came after receiving a letter from Chairman Grassley and other Republican members of the Judiciary Committee stating that confirmation hearings would not be held, despite Grassley previously suggesting they might be. The Republican senators expressed their desire for a thorough debate on the type of justice the American people want to decide important issues, especially with the upcoming presidential election on Nov 8. If the Senate waits to consider a nominee until after a new president takes office, it is unlikely that the Supreme Court will have all nine justices until early 2017. This would leave the court short-staffed for over a year, affecting its ability to make decisions. In cases with 4-4 rulings, lower court decisions stand and no national precedent is established. Reid believes the Republican party's strategy is influenced by the party's right wing, specifically mentioning Donald Trump and Ted Cruz as examples. Reid reassured that Senate Democrats would not block legislation in retaliation for Republican inaction, stating they would not become known as the "obstruct caucus." The White House spokesman expressed concern that blocking a hearing for Obama's nominee would be unprecedented and politicize the Supreme Court. McConnell emphasized that the Senate has the right to withhold consent for the nominee, while Schumer predicted that Republican resistance would weaken under voter pressure. Schumer criticized Senate Republicans, calling their strategy not only risky but also incorrect and doomed to fail. However, Senator Orrin Hatch, a Republican Judiciary Committee member, expressed his lack of concern for public pressure, stating that they are standing for a principle that the next president should address the issue. Democrats, who only control 46 out of the 100 Senate seats, are significantly outnumbered by Republicans, who hold 54 seats, making it difficult for Democrats to advance controversial legislation or a Supreme Court nomination.