GOP hopefuls at debate react to Scalia death

The death of Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia cast a shadow over Saturday night's GOP debate in Greenville, S.C., and CBS moderator John Dickerson called for a moment of silence as the candidates first took the stage.

As expected, the first question concerned Scalia's death and more specifically questions about whether President Obama should nominate a successor in an election year.

Donald Trump said he "would certainly try" to do so if he were in Obama's shoes and expected the president to name a replacement. However, he added, he hopes the Senate will “do something about it."

“This is a tremendous blow to conservatism," Trump said of Scalia's death. And what should Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other GOP leaders do to stop Obama?

“It’s called delay, delay, delay,” Trump said.

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Ohio Gov. John Kasich bemoaned the fact that the political conversation had "run so fast into politics." He said he hoped the president didn't nominate a replacement unless it's someone with "unanimous approval."

“I don’t think that’s going to happen," he said of that prospect.

Ben Carson questioned the continued wisdom of the Constitution's provision for lifetime terms for justices, given how life spans have been dramatically extended since the founders wrote the document.

As for Obama nominating a replacement, he said, "“We should not allow a judge to be appointed during his time.”

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Florida Sen. Marco Rubio paid tribute to Scalia, saying "his loss is tremendous" and that Scalia "will go down as one of the great justices."

“I do not believe the president should appoint somebody," Rubio added, saying the vacancy highlights the stakes in the 2016 election.

Jeb Bush was asked about whether he would employ a litmus test for a Supreme Court replacement. He said he wouldn't on any specific issue.

He added that “of course the president has every right to nominate Supreme Court justices," but that "there should be a consensus-orientation" for that nominee.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a former Supreme Court clerk, said Scalia "was a legal giant" and a "brilliant man."

Like Rubio, Cruz said the coming nomination fight “underscores the stakes of this election," citing the possible impact on abortion and gun rights.

As for what should happen with an Obama nomination, he said, “the Senate needs to stand strong” against a "liberal appointee."