In fact, when Clinton was considering justices in 1994, he ran several names past GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch to see what sort of flak they might take. To those asking about how Gore would affect the Supreme Court - tune in two weeks from now, the day after the Democratic convention. We'll have a similar discussion on that very topic. Is his chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee a help to that or a hinderance. Ties to the Senate usually help, given that Senate's approval role, but Hatch ran a controversial presidential campaign and he's also 66 now.
Presidents like to appoint 'em young.
I don't know at this point, but I'd be willing to bet that old-time conservatives and the remains of the Reagan era would compete with the governor's current inside advisors for influence over court appointments. It is a far gone conlusion that Justice Thomas position are out of step with African Americans. Would either candidate appoint an African American with views similiar to the majority of African Americans. More likely under a Democratic president. LBJ appointed Thurgood Marshall, the first black justice.