Biden beseeches Republicans
PHILADELPHIA: Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden urged Senate Republicans not to vote on any candidate nominated to the United States Supreme Court as the November election nears, calling President
Donald Trump’s plan an ‘‘exercise of raw political power’’.
A second Senate Republican yesterday voiced objections to Trump’s plan for a quick vote on a replacement for liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Saturday. Such an appointment, if approved by the Senate, would cement a 63 conservative majority.
‘‘Voters of this country should be heard . . . they’re the ones who this constitution envisions should decide who has the power to make this appointment,’’ Biden said in Philadelphia. ‘‘To jam this nomination through the Senate is just an exercise of raw political power.’’
Biden said that if he wins the November 3 election, he should have the chance to nominate the next Supreme Court justice.
He reiterated his pledge to nominate an AfricanAmerican woman to the court.
Yesterday, Senator Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, said she did not support Trump’s plan to move fast on filling the seat, becoming the second of the 53 Republicans in the 100seat chamber to object publicly.
A majority of Americans, some 62% including many Republicans, told a Reuters/Ipsos poll that they thought the winner of the November election should get to nominate a justice to fill the vacancy.