Does the SCOTUS matter benefit Democrats in the general election?

[wheniwasincongress]

What say you?

[FreakinDJ]

1. It does when Ratpublicons look like obstructionist

[craigmatic]

2. If repubs obstruct a minority nominee by Obama it helps us.

[Nite Owl]

3. Obama made it matter

tonight when he said he would nominate someone. It put the GOP on the hot seat and will show their inability to govern and cooperate.

[Liberty Belle]

4. Maybe not; it will motivate the religious right to turn out and vote

I fear unless Obama can get someone nominated.

[Retrograde]

5. IMHO, yes

in my hopeful opinion, yes, as it highlights the fact we bring up at every presidential election: it's the nominations to the courts that are going to live on long after a particular president is out of office.

[cheyanne]

6. Yes, as November closes in, the Republicans will find themselves blamed

for government gridlock, SCOTUS gridlock and they will be without a winning candidate.

From what I read, when SCOTUS's 4-4 on a case, they let the lower courts' verdict stand. Courts in other jurisdictions do not need to follow that verdict. In other words, we will see a hot mess of conflicting verdicts.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

7. only time will tell

...

[ShadowLiberal]

8. Depends on a few things, #1 being if Obama gets a nominee confirmed

A few things effect if this will help Democrats in the general election.

1) Does Obama get a Supreme Court justice confirmed, or does the GOP obstruct it all the way?

2) How does the media portray the battle to get someone on the court?

Personally, I'm thinking the longer this lags out, the worse it could be for the GOP. Whereas the quicker the GOP stops saying they'll obstruct it the less it'll help Democratic turnout.

If the GOP tries to go "no one is getting confirmed" all the way, or worse yet tries to refuse to even schedule a hearing on whoever Obama nominates, it'll become more explosive and help democrats more.

If the GOP caves and confirms an Obama nominee, I think it really depends on how long they fight it till they cave and confirm the nominee. I could see this possibly building up enough momentum for democrats after a certain point that even confirming a Supreme Court justice won't stop it.