Report: White House Vetting Nevada GOP Gov. Brian Sandoval For SCOTUS

Updated at 3:32 p.m. ET

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the White House was vetting Nevada Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval for the open seat on the Supreme Court.

It is not uncommon for names to be floated as trial balloons ahead of an actual nomination.

The White House’s thinking could be that floating Sandoval, a moderate pro-choice Hispanic Republican, could turn up the political heat on Senate Republicans, who have pledged not to even hold a hearing on any Obama nominee to the Supreme Court. Shunning a member of their own party may be harder for Republicans to navigate than turning their backs on a liberal nominee to the court.

The Washington Post story noted that the vetting was confirmed by several individuals close to the process, however, the White House did not comment. The spokesman for the White House has repeatedly said that the president has not narrowed his list of nominees to a “shortlist” yet.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) met with Sandoval on Monday and said Wednesday that he could support Sandoval if he were to be nominated.

“I don’t pick the justices, but I know if he were picked, I would support the man,” Reid told CNN. “He’s a good person, has a great record, and has been a tremendously good governor in spite of having to deal with some very big problems there.”

As the Washington Post report notes, the Senate did “unanimously” approve Sandoval to a federal district judgeship in 2005. On social issues, Sandoval is more moderate than many Republicans on social issues like abortion and gay marriage, but he is still far more of a conservative than many Democrats would expect for a nominee to the court by a Democratic president.