Washington:US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has called for the postponement of the Senate vote to fill the Supreme Court vacancy until after the November election, following the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
"Her (Ginsburg's) granddaughter (Clara Spera) said yesterday ... that her dying words were 'My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,'" Biden said in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, adding "as a nation, we should heed her final call."
Biden stressed that the American people have already started voting and appointing a new Supreme Court justice now will be an "abuse of power."
"Even if President (Donald) Trump wants to put forward a name, now, the Senate should not act until after the American people select their next president," he said.
Senator Susan Collins said on Saturday that Trump did have the constitutional authority to make a nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, but because of the upcoming presidential election "the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the President who is elected on November 3" and the Senate should not vote on the nominee prior to the election.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump said he was going to nominate a new Supreme Court justice next week and that he did not agree with Collins' stance on the issue.
"I totally disagree with her. We have an obligation, we won, and we have an obligation as the winners to pick who we want. That is not the next president," Trump said, adding "hopefully I will be the next president."
