washington republicans refusal consider supreme court nominee president barack obama year could jeopardize party control senate democrats use standoff challenge vulnerable opponents election year congressional leaders meet obama white house tuesday replace recently decease justice antonin scalia senate republican leader mitch mcconnell stance oppose nomination obama neither side give grind showdown issue already use democrats target republican senators state include ohio wisconsin illinois new hampshire pennsylvania even though elections november democrats two goals one open new line attack republicans state tend vote democratic presidential election years chip away mcconnell position may hard maintain time democrats strategy work say republicans maintain supreme court showdown actually help race issue much important voters worry economic national security issue supreme court tom ridge former republican governor pennsylvania say interview court fight may impact best think marginal issue long way play obama yet name nominee also supreme court yet deadlocked 4-4 since scalia death high-profile issue stalemate test public reaction harangue vulnerable incumbents illinois republican mark kirk democrats hope convince swing voters stone-walling obama nominee dereliction duty face attack kirk last week break rank mcconnell say hear hold nominee possible general election opponent democratic representative tammy duckworth tell reuters hammer away kirk senate confirmation process would say anything push hard say ohio pennsylvania three-quarters poll say senate least see obama nominate decide whether confirm nominee accord public policy poll survey conduct feb. 19-21. former pennsylvania democratic governor ed rendell tell reuters supreme court battle trouble republicans bring dramatic focus crystal clarity importance presidential election concern supreme court rendell say liberal activist group moveon.org last week sponsor 30-second cable television spot urge senate republicans job consider obama appointee time conservative group judicial crisis network launch 30-second video thank senator patrick toomey support mcconnell position let people decide replace scalia republicans must defend 24 senate seat november democrats 10 defend senator rob portman first-term republican face tough re-election ohio also side mcconnell republican senator ron johnson wisconsin sweep office 2010 tea party movement run 11 point behind democrat russ feingold former senator beat six years ago marquette law school poll last week show win analysts say johnson must garner support different presidential-year electorate likely young racially diverse potentially great interest move forward supreme court nominee far court debate help johnson solidify support among republicans two-thirds support mcconnell stand supreme court standoff loom republicans senate defense