washington president barack obama unveil supreme court nominee wednesday carefully craft operation sell choice americans resistant republicans roll action liberal group announce national campaign target republican senate opponents demonstrations television ads likely one bitter fight ever supreme court nomination white house enlist legal scholars corporate executives make case centrist judge merrick garland despite resistance senate republican leader mitch mcconnell senior republicans say obama let next president fill position garland appeals-court judge immediately start make call capitol hill signal start battle public perceptions obama seek highlight democrats characterize unprecedented obstructionism pressure may enough convince republicans give garland hear let alone confirmation vote white house bet since many republicans face tough re-election battle may less will reject garland hand white house enlist former white house officials stephanie cutter katie beirne fallon mobilize liberal group see fight historic chance push supreme court leave well mobilize supporters ahead elections go organize record number say mary kay henry president service employees international union plan rally outside offices republican senators pennsylvania ohio illinois wisconsin new hampshire start next week republicans likely sway message voters may say michael gottlieb lawyer washington firm boies schiller flexner involve last four supreme court nominations move needle average person independent voter moderate republican see inaction nominee senate job gottlieb say 57 percent americans believe obama name replacement vacant seat 33 percent say accord reuters/ipsos poll events plan slew democrat-linked group feature work americans tell senate republicans job accord former white house official involve efforts social media play big part petition twitter tag doyoujob already collect 1.5 million signatures central target republican senator charles grassley iowa say obama nominee would get hear judiciary committee face tough democratic challenger pressure liberal activists grassley talk garland phone wednesday hold possibility meet democratic aid say aim pressure grassley hold hear whether see grassley meantime struggle justify current hard-line position think could help democratic opponent november former lieutenant governor patty judge re-election worry republican senators face re-election new hampshire illinois ohio say will meet garland democrats view seat among promise target effort win back control 100-seat body 34 seat grab senate republicans 54-46 seat majority democrats say fight could make senate race missouri north carolina competitive well though independent analysts say still face uphill climb election still seven months away tough keep issue forefront voters mind say nathan gonzales track elections rothenberg gonzales political report despite political overtones obama opt pick relatively uncontroversial candidate garland top judge u.s. court appeal district columbia view centrist ideologically drive conservative group say garland past rule indicate would push court leave gun right government regulations key issue others plan keep focus obama nominee start eviscerate public sphere go create sympathy white house use say jason pye spokesman libertarian group freedomworks members network send 500,000 email urge republican senators stick position say white house say enlist 356 legal scholars 217 corporate lawyers 17 environmental executives letter-writing campaign urge republican senators act leave say may hard time rally members behind centrist 63-year-old white male candidate go grassroots energy manufacture thin air say neil sroka spokesman democracy action network million progressive activists attack ads protest phone call sell supreme court nominee