Republican presidential candidate and Ohio Gov. John Kasich walked back from comments he made during an interview on "Meet The Press," saying if he becomes president, he would not consider Merrick Garland to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia, NBC News reported.
NBC's Chuck Todd asked Kasich about whether the Senate should hold hearings on President Obama’s nominee.
Kasich said while he doesn't think Obama should have named a replacement, he stated members of the Senate should show Garland "respect" by granting him a meeting, and that he could possibly consider putting him under consideration as his own nominee.
The governor stepped back from his comments while speaking to reporters in Utah later Saturday, calling his earlier remarks an attempt at being "polite."
"In an effort to be polite today, I've created little bit of a situation," Kasich said after a campaign event in St. George. "Look, you know, Garland is — I'm gonna have my own picks for the Supreme Court.”
