It's an unforced error by Senate Republicans that will be difficult to mop up, and one that could cost them at the ballot box in November, according to Cillizza. Senate Republicans sent a clear message to the American voters: We aren't even going to make a show of playing ball on this one.
Instead they could have chosen this process offered by Cillizza, giving them the same result:
Step 1: Say almost nothing about Obama picking someone to replace Scalia other than that the person will get a "fair hearing."
Step 2: Convene the standard hearings on Judiciary for the nominee.
Aggressively question him or her as you would any other nominee in
Obama's presidency.
Step 3: Never allow a vote on the nominee, using the 60-vote filibuster threshold as your best friend.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/15/why-senate-republicans-made-a-big-mistake-on-the-supreme-court-opening/
