Senate

Dem senator: Supreme Court fight ‘personal’

by Jordain Carney - 04/06/16 11:51 AM ET

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) slammed Republicans on Wednesday, suggesting they’re using the Supreme Court battle to undermine President Obama.

“I’ll say what the president probably will not say: ‘I believe it is personal,’ ” he told reporters. “I think it is a decision made by the Republicans to deny to President Barack Obama his authority.”

{mosads}The Senate’s No. 2 Democrat added the president has “shown a steely strength” amid pushback from Republicans since he took office in 2009.

Durbin’s comments come after he met with nominee Merrick Garland in his office Wednesday. The president’s pick is meeting with 11 senators this week as he courts Capitol Hill lawmakers.

Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) suggested on Tuesday that Democrats could use rare tactics, including a discharge petition, on the Senate floor to try to force at least a procedural vote related to Garland’s nomination.

Durbin said on Wednesday that leaders are looking at other options and no decisions have been made.

“The wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow,” he said. “During this [work] period, there will be a decision made. That’s my sense.”

The Senate is in session through April. Under Durbin’s timeline, Democrats could make a decision on potential procedural tactics in a few weeks.

Approximately 17 GOP senators have said they are willing to sit down with Garland, but most will use the meetings to say they believe the Supreme Court seat should remain empty.

Democrats argue that a spate of recent polling as well as an uptick in GOP senators meeting with Garland underscore that momentum is on their side.

While top Republicans are brushing off Democratic pressure, Durbin added Wednesday that Republicans “are not winning.”

“They may be stopping Merrick Garland, but they’re not winning before the court of public opinion,” he said. “As they continue this approach, they’re going to pay a price in that court of public opinion.”

Tags Barack Obama Dick Durbin Harry Reid