Justices weigh if DA-turned-judge had murder case conflict

African-American voters see court fight as affront to Obama

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — African-American voters see the Republican opposition to President Barack Obama filling the Supreme Court vacancy as the latest affront to the first black president. Obama isn't on the ballot this fall, but plenty of Republicans are. The Supreme Court standoff could galvanize black voters — a crucial component of the Democratic base. In Pennsylvania, that could make it tough for GOP Sen. Pat Toomey, who's running for a second term. Toomey's Democratic opponents have already seized on the fight. Recent polling shows that Toomey's unfavorable ratings have increased, and a majority of Americans think the Senate should hold hearings and vote on Obama's nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. In the presidential contest, both Democratic candidates have mentioned the issue.