If sheb resigns, the GOP should bottle up any confirmation hearings until the next President takes office. The Democrats do that kind of thing all the time.
The GOP won’t of course
No one rationally thinks a SCOTUS nominee could be confirmed before January. It just takes too long. This happened back in ‘68 IIRC.
1. McConnell wants to be MAJORITY leader..the conservative majority in the Senate GOP caucus..led by DeMint, Paul, Lee, Rubio, among others..would toss him overboard if he didn't.
2. Leahy's speech this week, when he all but threatened SC justices..alone makes the case to block any nomination by Obama..