Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Mellman: The likely voter sham Bottom line MORE (D-Nev.) on Wednesday suggested Republicans will relent and eventually take up President Obama's Supreme Court nomination despite widespread opposition.

"I first of all think that they’re going to cave in. I think the president’s going to give us a nominee that’s a good one, and I think they’re going to have to hold hearings and have a vote," Reid said at a Democratic caucus event in Reno, Nev.

ADVERTISEMENT

Reid was referring to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt MORE's (R-Ky.) statement Saturday that the next president should be allowed to fill the Supreme Court seat left open by Justice Antonin Scalia's death.

While Republicans initially rallied around McConnell's strategy, a growing number have suggested they could be open to having a hearing, depending whom the president nominates.

Reid said McConnell made a "terrible mistake" that would have political consequences if they "jerk the president around" ahead of the 2016 elections, in which Republicans are defending 24 Senate seats.

Reid and other top Senate Democrats have slammed Republicans, accusing the GOP of ignoring its constitutional duties and playing politics. They have pointed to the confirmation of Anthony Kennedy under President Ronald Reagan in an election year.

Despite Democratic opposition to what they view as GOP stalling tactics, Reid said Democrats would not block all other Senate legislation in retaliation if Republicans refuse to take up Obama's nominee.

"I had someone ask me, 'Are you going to shut down the Senate if they don’t allow this?' and I said there’s no reason to shut anything down; we’re not doing anything anyway," he said.

Democrats have repeatedly needled McConnell over his focus on passing the 12 appropriations bills through "regular order."