Supreme Court vacancy

Nearly 2 in 3 Americans back Democrats' demands that the Republican-run Senate hold hearings and a vote on President Barack Obama's pick for the Supreme Court. But an Associated Press-GfK poll also suggests that GOP defiance against considering the nominee may not hurt the party much because to many people, the election-year fight is simply not a big deal.

In the clearest sign yet of the impact of Justice Antonin Scalia's death, U.S. labor unions scored a major victory Tuesday with a tie vote in a high-profile Supreme Court case they had once seemed all but certain to lose.

An effort by liberal groups to pressure Republicans to allow Senate consideration of President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee got off to a modest start Monday as small groups of demonstrators rallied outside lawmakers' offices around the country. A bigger election-year battle ramped up as both sides brought their viewpoints to television, social media and supporters' email inboxes.

In experience, background and even in his personal characteristics, Merrick Garland resembles the men and women he would join on the bench if he is confirmed to the Supreme Court.

President Barack Obama called Democrats and Republicans to the White House Tuesday to discuss election-year standoff over the vacancy on the Supreme Court. Neither side showed signs of budging.