scalia dead, how does it effect things?

OK, first off, it does hand an advatage to us, if we take it. Yes the GOP will block anyone Obama nominates, but this is where, if we stand united, we can make the GOP look bad, as it will be obvious they are stalling for time. We can also wait until the GOP does their inevitable prayers for the death of Ginsberg, i.e. (when she dies, we can set the scales right)

This is an opportunity for Hillary IF she takes it. If she were to come out and name a few strong liberal justices, ones that WILL defend roe v Wade, will defend affirmative action, she wins. You basically have living proof of the one argument that is her trump, the "hey, you don't want Trump or Cruz stuffing the court full of GOP stooges, right?"

ut of course, Debbie will want to rein her in, as many of her backers and funders do not like anything to the left of Ronald Reagan, and want to commit to nothing in the hopes, after Hillary is declared winner they can take Hillary into that back room of the white house, play the REAL tape of the JFK assassination, and let her know which campaign promises she needs to break, or else.

If Hillary waffles (and let me state I doubt that, she is probably making phone calls as we speak) but if she does, Sanders has a chance. If Sanders goes and says he would nominate someone that gives Alito a stroke, let's say like

Godwin Liu
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodwin_Liu#Opinions

if sanders does THAT, then he can gain on Hillary, because again, Hillary's main trump is that she will undo Scalia's damage. If she wiffles, Sanders can gain.

Like I said, I doubt she will. If she is not on the horn to Godwin Liu right this very second, she is a fool.