washington republican senators thursday raise possibility would confirm barack obama supreme court nominee merrick garland u.s. president leave office january democrats retain white house nov. election garland begin customary meet senators kick confirmation process visit offices democrats harry reid patrick leahy day obama nominate appeal court judge former prosecutor replace conservative justice antonin scalia die feb. 13. republicans concern hillary clinton obama former secretary state democratic front-runner win presidential election could send senate far liberal nominee take office garland 63 widely view moderate acceptable many republicans also worry could lose control senate democrats november vote nominations lifetime supreme court post require senate confirmation republicans say want next president make selection hop party win november election billionaire businessman donald trump front-runner republican presidential nomination utah orrin hatch arizona jeff flake republican members judiciary committee would hold confirmation hear say possible senate could act garland nomination lame-duck session election new president congress take office january would choose less liberal nominee nominee less liberal nominee would get quite certain hillary clinton flake tell reporters senate republican leaders vow hold confirmation hear up-or-down vote supreme court nominee put forward obama majority leader mitch mcconnell kentucky reiterate stance thursday denis mcdonough obama chief staff say white house watch developments next several weeks months expect republicans eventually would hold vote garland nomination democratic appointee high court four liberals four conservatives follow scalia death could tip leave first time decades could shape rule issue abortion gun right religious right affirmative action union power political spend flake say republican leaders fully justify delay action confirmation republicans lose white house race senate ought look nomination lame-duck session november hatch 1997 back garland nomination current judgeship day think well merrick garland think fine person hatch tell national public radio remain convince best way senate job conduct confirmation process toxic presidential election season over mcconnell refuse even meet garland republican judiciary committee chairman chuck grassley iowa indicate will meet dictator uganda surely meet decent person america grassley say accord cnn garland meet nevada reid senate democratic leader vermont leahy top democrat judiciary committee garland address reporters leahy express hope republican leaders would change course follow normal routine senators could hold confirmation hear vote memorial day holiday late may leahy say reid pledge keep pressure republicans confirm garland wait reid say ask lame-duck confirmation scenario hold nomination donald trump give nomination scare everybody senators say might confirm obama 's high court pick election