Biden hints at opposition to court packing as pressure builds | TheHill

Joe BidenJoe BidenMcConnell challenger dodges court packing question 'Hamilton' cast to reunite for Biden fundraiser Trump relishes return to large rallies following COVID-19 diagnosis MORE is hinting that as president he would not be in favor of expanding the Supreme Court, giving new insight into how the Democratic nominee might govern as he tiptoes through a political minefield that has dogged him on the campaign trail for weeks.Biden has still not answered equivocally as to whether he’d be open to “court packing” as Senate Republicans move quickly on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, who is on track to become President TrumpDonald John TrumpTwo ethics groups call on House to begin impeachment inquiry against Barr Trump relishes return to large rallies following COVID-19 diagnosis McGrath: McConnell 'can't get it done' on COVID-19 relief MORE’s third justice confirmed to the Supreme Court.Progressives are eager to see Democrats respond by adding their own justices to the Supreme Court if they win the White House and Senate.If Biden sides with the left, he risks turning off independent swing voters and giving ammunition to Trump’s campaign, which has accused him of being a “tool of the radical left.” If Biden announces his opposition to expanding the court, he risks alienating liberals only three weeks out from Election Day.In an interview with a local Cincinnati affiliate late Monday night, Biden, who has steadfastly refused to answer the question, acknowledged that he’s “not a fan” of court packing.But he also didn’t take it off the table and instead accused Republicans of packing the courts by jamming through a Supreme Court nominee late in an election cycle.“I’m not a fan of court packing, but I don’t want to get off on that whole issue. The focus is, why is he doing what he’s doing now?”That answer was a shift for Biden on the campaign trail, who had until then declined to give any insight whatsoever into his views on court packing.The question had become a problem for the campaign, as Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisMcConnell challenger dodges court packing question The Hill's Campaign Report: Barrett hearings take center stage | Trump returns to campaign trail The Hill's 12:30 Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Sights and sounds as Amy Coney's Barrett hearing begins MORE (D-Calif.), have appeared evasive at their debates and in media interviews.Over the past week, Biden has said that voters will know his opinion on court packing “when the election is over.” He also got into a testy exchange with a reporter who asked if voters “deserve to know” where he stands.“No they don’t deserve — I’m not going to play his game,” Biden said.In both instances, the remarks were picked up by the Trump campaign as evidence of Biden not shooting straight with voters about an important issue.Adding to the scrutiny, comments Biden made in 1983 began to circulate in recent days, in which the then-senator called President Franklin Roosevelt’s attempt to expand the Supreme Court in 1937 a “bonehead idea.”Biden’s allies say that with a 90-minute town hall coming up on Thursday and a second presidential debate next week, it was becoming unreasonable to think that he could go the final weeks without giving some sort of insight into his thinking."We didn't answer because we don't like talking about hypotheticals," said one Biden ally close to the campaign.