The Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia is already intensifying the battle in key Senate races, analysts say.
A replacement for the conservative stalwart could become a "lightning rod" for both the right and left in competitive Senate races in New Hampshire, Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin because the issue could potentially "cut both ways," John Green, director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron, tells
USA Today.
For example, that tension could explain why Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk isn't joining the
GOP effort to stall a SCOTUS nominee, while New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte is, despite push-back from local media and challenger, Gov. Maggie Hassan, USA Today reports.
And in Ohio, incumbent Sen. Rob Portman, who supports a nominee selection under a new president is getting heat from his challenger, former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, who accused Portman of "jeopardizing the institutions of our democracy and engaging in exactly the kind of dysfunctional behavior that frustrates Ohioans about Congress," USA Today reports.
In states like Arizona and Nevada, a Hispanic nominee could motivate Latino voters, particularly with the uncertain fate of a major immigration case now before the Supreme Court, USA Today sports.
"Where the Latino votes will make the most difference is in Colorado, Nevada, and Florida," Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, an immigrant-rights group, tells USA Today.
"Whoever is appointed will determine the outcome of a whole slew of really contentious issues," John Anthony Maltese, head of the political science department at the University of Georgia, tells USA Today.
"That's what makes this particularly charged and what's really galvanized the Republicans to say, 'Wait, we don't want a Democratic president to be choosing' Scalia's successor.'"
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