Courtesy for court nominee from Dems as battle lines set

WASHINGTON -- It was Day One for the traditional courtesy calls to senators, but there's not much about Merrick Garland's Supreme Court nomination that has adhered to tradition -- or courtesy.

A day after his selection set the battle lines in a major fight over the court, President Barack Obama's choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia met only with Democratic leaders Thursday -- steering clear of the Republican leader who has vowed the Senate will ignore Garland's nomination and wait for the next president to fill the seat.

For Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the Capitol visit was a stunt "orchestrated" by the White House, his spokesman said.

But for Democrats, it was just the opening salvo in a public campaign to make Garland, a mild-mannered jurist with sterling credentials, the best-known victim of Republican obstruction and a household name in every election battleground state.

Garland met with Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Outside, Garland braved a throng of reporters and cameras but said nothing.

Before the Capitol Hill visit, more than a dozen Senate Democrats stood in front of the Supreme Court, using the telegenic backdrop to underscore their calls for Republicans to give Garland a hearing.

Democrats cited polling showing public support for Senate consideration of the nomination and linked the court fight to Donald Trump -- the volatile front-runner for the GOP nomination and a source of embarrassment for the Republican establishment.

"If Republicans stand in the way and refuse to do their job, it will only be because they want Donald Trump to pick the next nominee," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.