washington president barack obama monday take political battle pick vacancy u.s. supreme court home state seven republican senators re-election november obama conduct interview local television anchor argue republican senators hold confirmation hear vote nomination appellate judge merrick garland top court argument let american people see judge garland let answer question let hear responses democratic president tell wdaf-tv fox kansas city missouri market straddle state senators roy blunt missouri jerry moran kansas re-election republican leaders resolute obama successor elect nov. take office jan. 20 fill vacancy leave february death conservative justice antonin scalia republicans hop party candidate win presidency make appointment court split 4-4 conservatives liberals mean scalia successor could influence ideological direction years come obama argue senate responsibility formally consider garland nomination tell abc affiliate wmur manchester new hampshire judge maybe qualify nominee see senate supreme court seat new hampshire kelly ayotte view one vulnerable senate republican incumbents meet garland want senate wait election act nomination know folks like senator ayotte meet fact call hear vote mean job obama say interview separate interview wmur ayotte defend position view wait election midst presidential nomination process people weigh election november important consider 4-4 court say obama also talk television anchor iowa home senate judiciary committee chairman chuck grassley help lead efforts block garland president speak well anchor ohio senator rob portman face competitive re-election race wisconsin senator ron johnson run phoenix home senator john mccain arizona obama take supreme court fight republican senators home turf