Senate GOP likely to hold line on Supreme Court pick

Republican insiders predicted Wednesday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wouldn't back down from his pledge to block President Obama's expected pick to succeed the late conservative justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.

Some Republicans have questioned the wisdom of the Kentucky Republican's quick move announcing that Scalia's successor shouldn't be appointed until the voters weigh in this November and the next president is inaugurated. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., predicted that McConnell would eventually acquiesce and permit the Senate to vote on Obama's nominee.

But Republican operatives familiar with McConnell's thinking and closely aligned with GOP senators said they expect the blockade to hold. The stakes of letting the now-evenly divided nine-member high court swing liberal with the confirmation of what would be Obama's third nominee, and the political repercussions for doing so, are enough to keep most Republicans on board with McConnell's plan.More from the Washington ExaminerObama defends planned Cuban trip

There is no way to move a nomination past a filibuster by true conservatives," one GOP source said. "Republican moderates in the Senate do not want to vote because they will alienate their base if they vote for cloture."

Battle lines are being drawn in the race for the White House, functioning as another check on Republicans who might advocate that the Senate consider Obama's eventual Supreme Court nominee. Leading candidates like Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida back McConnell's decision to obstruct the president during the final 11 months of his presidency. Both presidential contenders are running campaign ads highlighting the court as an issue.