Most politicians on President Obama’s possible short list for the Supreme Court are saying “no thanks” to the White House’s overtures.
Ever since Senate Republicans banded together and pledged that any Obama nominee would not receive a hearing, the odds of being confirmed went down steeply.
Four politicians floated four the vacancy on the court since Justice Antonin Scalia’s death already made it clear they do not want it.
New Jersey Democratic Sen. [crscore]Cory Booker[/crscore] was suggested as a possibility, but shut it down quickly. The New Jersey Advance reported Booker said to the suggestion, “It’s incredibly flattering to be a U.S. senator, which I want to stay at for a long time… It’s flattering to be talked about for anything, but I’ve got the best job. The best job I can dream of.”
Booker’s colleague in the upper chamber Minnesota Democratic Sen. [crscore]Amy Klobuchar[/crscore] made it clear to CNN she had no interest in being tapped for the Supreme Court.
“I won’t be, because I made it very clear that I love my job representing Minnesota. And I don’t want to be in the running for that job but I will tell you this — being on the Judiciary Committee right now couldn’t be more important,” Klobuchar told CNN’s John Berman on “New Day” last week.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris was also rumored as a potential candidate that Obama would put forth, but she told reporters she had no interest in the job whatsoever.
“I’m not putting my name out there, I’m running for United States Senate,” Harris said last week during a campaign stop in Silicon Valley. “Let’s put that out there right now. That’s not where I’m headed.”
Nevada Republican Governor Brian Sandoval put a stop to the speculation he was interested in the high court after he noticed fellow Nevadan [crscore]Harry Reid[/crscore], the Senate Minority Leader, pushing his name for the court.
In a Thursday statement, Sandoval said “earlier today I notified the White House that I do not wish to be considered at this time for possible nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States.”
Senate Majority Leader [crscore]Mitch McConnell[/crscore] and Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley are expected to meet with President Obama on Tuesday to reiterate Republicans plans not to schedule any hearings for the president’s Supreme Court appointments.