Senators say Obama can avoid Supreme Court filibuster fight by making ‘mainstream’ selection

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Senators say high court filibuster can be avoided

WASHINGTON — Two senators on the committee that will examine President Barack Obama’s next Supreme Court nominee are playing down the chance of a filibuster.

Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, the second-ranking Senate Republican, says the White House can avoid a filibuster fight by nominating a “mainstream” candidate to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. Kyl says a filibuster is unlikely except under “extraordinary circumstances.”

A fellow Senate Justice Committee member, Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, says he thinks it’s fairly certain that Obama will settle on someone in the mainstream.

The senators appeared on ABC’s “This Week.”