Back in Washington today, key senators are weighing in on the upcoming Supreme Court nomination, with Majority Whip Richard Durbin, a Judiciary Committee member, saying he would prefer a nominee with electoral experience.

"I'd like to see a court with somebody on it who's actually run for office," Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters. "It's been a long time.... Of course judicial experience is important, but some of those other experiences in life... are pretty important for Supreme Court justices."

Durbin said electoral experience might have led to a different ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which Democrats say will allow unfettered spending by corporations to alter the political process. The court hasn't had an ex-legislator since Sandra Day O'Connor, a former Arizona state senator.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called for a nominee with "extensive real-world legal experience" in floor remarks on the nomination. McConnell also said the nominee should have "a demonstrated commitment to the rule of law."

McConnell joined other GOP lawmakers in arguing that the confirmation process of Justice Sonia Sotomayor resulted in the rejection of President Obama's "empathy standard."

And he said, "Once the president submits his nominee, Senate Republicans will diligently review his or her record so the American people can be confident that they'll be able to fulfill the judicial oath, namely to administer justice without respect to persons and to do right by the poor and by the rich. I am hopeful that at the end of the day, I and other Republicans will be convinced that the nominee will be able to do so."