Who’s likely to be nominated?

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Republicans are near-unanimous in demanding that President Barack Obama leave it to his successor to nominate a candidate to fill the Supreme Court seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia. But the president insists he plans to come forward with a nominee — and that there’s plenty of time for the Senate to weigh in.

That sets up what could be an epic election-year clash between Obama and Republicans who say they’ll refuse to vote for his nominee, who could reshape the court for decades to come.

So whom will Obama pick?

Obama hasn’t said whom he’s considering, but some Cabinet members, politicians and current judges are being prominently floated as possible picks:

Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Though Lynch’s nomination was fraught with politics, she’s been recently confirmed and has been received relatively well by both parties since taking over the Justice Department less than a year ago.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. Johnson has serious credentials in many critical areas of the law, having served as the Pentagon’s general counsel and as a federal prosecutor. He has the benefit of having been Senate-confirmed multiple times – most recently in 2013 by an overwhelming majority.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris. Elected statewide in California in 2010, Harris is a longtime prosecutor and rising Democratic star who has drawn occasional comparisons with Obama.

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Picking a current colleague of the senators who will be voting on Obama’s nominee could be one strategy to increase prospects for a vote. Klobuchar, in her second Senate term, is a former prosecutor and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch.The Republican senator would be nominated only if Obama decided it would be better to pick a candidate Democrats didn’t love than risk a Republican successor making the choice for him.

Sri Srinivasan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. With a compelling personal story, Srinivasan has long been eyed for the high court. He has the added appeal of having been confirmed unanimously less than three years ago.

Merrick Garland, chief judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Garland is a Harvard Law School graduate whose name has long been in the mix. He’s considered a moderate judge and has experience on the D.C. circuit, which handles many cases involving administration actions.

Paul Watford, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Watford once served as a law clerk to Ginsburg, and worked as a federal prosecutor before Obama appointed him to the San Francisco-based court. An African-American, Watford was confirmed 61-34 in 2012.