Obama works the phones on Scalia replacement

President Obama placed calls over the weekend to senators from both political parities as he works toward nominating a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia.

The group who received phone calls from Obama includes members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would oversee the Supreme Court nomination process.

{mosads}“That is continued evidence the president takes quite seriously the responsibility that he has to consult with Congress in this matter,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Monday.

Obama has been working the phones amid staunch opposition from Republican lawmakers over putting forth a nominee.

Last week, he called Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Judiciary Committee Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), both of whom have said the next president, and not Obama, should name Scalia’s replacement.

He also called Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Pat Leahy (Vt.), the ranking Democrat on the judiciary panel.

“The president will place additional phone calls” with lawmakers this week, Earnest said.

Over the weekend, Obama also “spent quite a bit of time” reading information compiled on potential nominees, according to the spokesman.

The White House organized a photo-op last Friday of the president carrying a binder full of materials from the Oval Office into the residence.

Earnest declined to describe Obama’s impressions of possible nominees. He added that the president’s list of potential replacements is not finalized.