The Supreme Court will be a focus of tonight’s presidential debate

emphasis appears in original WaPo article

By James Hohmann October 19 at 9:34 AM

THE BIG IDEA: The Supreme Court is one of six main topics that will be covered during tonight’s final debate at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. The late Antonin Scalia’s seat continues to sit empty. An evenly-divided court has begun its new term under a cloud of uncertainty. Assuming Hillary Clinton wins, it remains unclear whether Republicans will try to confirm Merrick Garland during the lame-duck session to prevent her from putting up someone who is younger and more liberal next year.

The debate took on new significance this week when John McCain boasted during a radio interview that Republicans would automatically oppose whomever Clinton nominates. “I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up,” the Arizona senator said. “I promise you!”

Attacked by his Democratic challenger, McCain’s spokeswoman released a statement walking back his comment. The senator will “thoroughly examine the record of any Supreme Court nominee put before the Senate,” she said. McCain then awkwardly avoided a local TV reporter who tried to follow up.

Republicans, who have struggled to convince voters that they are capable of governing, talked a big game in years past about the need to be more than just “the party of no.” That messaging is gone now. The prospect of four more years in the wilderness suggests that they will move back toward unapologetic obstruction.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2016/10/19/daily-202-the-supreme-court-will-be-a-focus-of-tonight-s-presidential-debate/5806cdb8e9b69b640f54c6a8/