All six Republican presidential candidates, led by Donald Trump, said they are against President Barack Obama nominating a replacement for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
The candidates made the comments at a GOP debate in South Carolina Saturday night, which took place just hours after Scalia died unexpectedly at the age of 79 — creating yet another layer of drama in an already contentious presidential election.
All six said the responsibility to fill his vacancy on the highest court should fall to the next president -- who, presumably, they hope will be one of them.
GOP front-runner Donald Trump, who admitted he would nominate a successor if he were in Obama's position, said he hopes Senate Republican leaders block any Obama nominee.
"It’s up to Mitch McConnell to stop it," Trump said of the Senate majority leader on blocking an Obama Supreme Court nominee. "It’s called delay, delay, delay."
Trump on Scalia replacement: "Delay, delay, delay" pic.twitter.com/QYL34Uluu9— Mashable News (@MashableNews) February 14, 2016
Yet at least two of the candidates, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, cited incorrect facts to support their case.
Marco Rubio overlooks Reagan's appointment of Justice Kennedy https://t.co/7Z1kPbcwZh— Mashable News (@MashableNews) February 14, 2016
.@jdickerson tries to correct Cruz on Kennedy appointment, gets booed by audience for facts. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/31bdGQoE7a— Mashable News (@MashableNews) February 14, 2016
The five other candidates on stage echoed similar sentiments to Trump's.
"The president should not move forward," Ohio Gov. John Kasich said of Obama nominating a replacement. "We ought to let the next president of the United States decide."
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson agreed.
"How can we create some healing in this land?" Carson asked rhetorically of the divisiveness in American politics. "We're not going to get healing with President Obama. ... We should not allow a judge to be appointed during his time."
Obama said before the debate that he plans to nominate a replacement — which falls under his power as the current president of the United States.
"These are responsibilities I take seriously," Obama said of nominating a replacement.
.@Potus plans to nominate a successor to Scalia "in due time" https://t.co/LQq5dy6vnm— Mashable News (@MashableNews) February 14, 2016