breyer s decision to retire has electrified washington, d.c. adding a legacy making item to the president s agenda and could galvanize the democratic base at a time of sagging approval ratings and with the signature legislation of the president stalled amid gridlock in washington. the news wednesday came as a relief for liberal activists who worry that democrats would lose control of the senate before breyer left the court and a shot of confidence to the democratic leaders who view the politics as a brigtd spot in an otherwise gloomy election season. president biden has promised to nominate the first black woman to the high court, a prospect the party hopes energizes supporters. republicans are already gearing up to oppose the yet to be named nominee. the new york times reporting, quote, holding a bare 50-seat majority under threat in november s elections democrats acknowledge the need to act fast since an illness or death of a member could deprive them. senate democrats
Breyer s worked tirelessly to give faith to the notion that the law exists to help the people. i think he is a model public servant in a time of great division in this country. he s been everything his country could have asked of him. president biden also promised to nominate the replacement by the end of february which to make it almost two years after he first pledged to appoint a black woman to the u.s. supreme court, a promise which biden ally and majority whip jim clyburn tells nbc news did more than anything else to propel joe biden to the presidency. president biden repeated that promise today. the person i will nominate will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity and the first black woman ever nominated to the united states supreme court. it s long overdue in my view.