Joe Biden has accused Donald Trump of “an abuse of power” over moves to replace the Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last week, before the US election.
The Democratic presidential nominee appealed to Republicans in the Senate not to “jam through” Mr Trump’s choice ahead of November’s vote.
The President has said he intends to name a woman to succeed the liberal icon, who died on Friday aged 87, within days, with Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell vowing to call an early confirmation vote.
That has prompted fears among Democrats that Republicans will lock in a Conservative majority on the nine-member court for decades to come. They are arguing that former vice president Mr Biden should be allowed to nominate Mrs Ginsburg’s replacement should he win the election on November 3.
The row has become a flashpoint in an already bitter election campaign that has exposed deep divisions over the handling of the coronavirus and the response to racial unrest sweeping cities the country. During a speech in Philadelphia last night, Mr Biden said the President had “made clear this is about power — pure and simple”.
“The United States constitution allows Americans the chance to be heard — and their voice should be heard ... they should make it clear, they will not stand for this abuse of power,” he said.
He urged Senate Republicans to “follow your conscience. Let the people speak. Cool the flames that have engulfed our country”.
“Don’t vote to confirm anyone nominated under the circumstances President Trump and Senator McConnell created. Don’t go there.”
Mr McConnell has vowed to call a vote for Mr Trump’s nominee, but Mr Biden added: “If I win this election, President Trump’s nominee should be withdrawn and as the new president I should be the one to nominate Justice Ginsburg’s successor.”
Two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, have backed delaying a confirmation vote until after the election. With Republicans holding a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, it will take two more Republican senators to break ranks for Mr Trump’s selection attempt to fail.
To the chants of “fill that seat”, Mr Trump told supporters at a campaign event on Saturday night in North Carolina that he would nominate a woman as soon as this week.
“We win an election and those are the consequences,” the President added.
