washington sudden shock death supreme court justice antonin scalia open new incendiary front already red-hot 2016 presidential race one promise divide democrats republicans perhaps republicans vacancy court evenly split 4-4 conservative liberal wing republicans call president barack obama refrain choose successor right-leaning scalia democrats urge obama u.s. constitution require put forward candidate face confirmation albeit hostile senate prospect battle draw swift furious comment candidates vie elect president november face debate hours 79-year-old scalia death announce republican presidential candidates seize moment caution voters party front-runner billionaire businessman donald trump could trust nominate stalwart conservative donald trump president appoint liberals charge u.s. senator ted cruz texas debate south carolina hold republican nominate contest next saturday two branch government hang balance presidency supreme court cruz say get wrong nominate wrong candidate second amendment life marriage religious liberty every one hang balance senator lindsey graham south carolina also take shoot trump donald trump conservative trust pick judge graham say debate real estate mogul trump support democratic politicians past trump also take several position odds republican orthodoxy join candidates debate insist senator mitch mcconnell republican majority leader senate stand promise block obama high court choice mitch mcconnell everyone else stop trump former reality tv show host say call delay delay delay u.s. system president nominate justices nine-member court senate confirm last justice approve senate opposite party election year justice anthony kennedy 1988. obama already indicate intend send choice senate come weeks mean nominee heavily scrutinize presidential candidates party likely oppose majority republicans court may genuinely major issue year say david axelrod former top political adviser obama hell fight criticism court recent years uphold obama sweep healthcare plan legalize same-sex marriage already thread run several republican candidates campaign conservative majority court appear poise invalidate obama immigration climate-change policies loss scalia consider lodestar conservative legal think potential swing court leave ensure whatever drama play senate year mirror campaign trail clarify debate politics days come supreme court nominees say jim manley democratic strategist former aide senator harry reid nevada marble reid majority leader senate confirm previous obama court nominees sonia sotomayor elena kagan manley call mcconnell threat allow vote potential scalia replacement completely beyond pale democratic candidate hillary clinton seem incline make mcconnell threat campaign issue republicans senate campaign trail call justice scalia seat remain vacant dishonor constitution clinton say statement axelrod say issue could help clinton lock tight race u.s. senator bernie sanders vermont think make electability experience realm important say rick hasen law professor university california irvine longtime observer supreme court nomination process say obama likely two options could nominate liberal candidate would real chance get republican senate case would become salient political issue 2016 hasen say could nominate moderate candidate might gain enough republican support gain approval say risk approach republican obstruction liberal nominee would animate democratic party progressive base election year would leave court without potentially tie-breaking vote perhaps year democratic base might view moderate nominee betrayal conservative republican voters likely would frown senator vote approve obama choice manley say mcconnell already show unwilling support choice make obama white house must act aggressively president go forward nominate liberal candidate possible say give need fire passionate voters might exactly republican candidates want well version story refiled fix mistyped word paragraph 16 write jam oliphant report ginger gibson jam oliphant additional report steve holland jeff mason edit howard goller sap sponsor content independently create reuters editorial staff fund part sap otherwise role coverage supreme court vacancy upend presidential race