Story highlights The top Senate Republican says he opposes a lame duck Supreme Court confirmation

Mitch McConnell said Republicans will run individual races and won't be hampered by the party's presidential nominee

Washington (CNN) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ruled out confirming President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, in a lame duck session after November's election.

In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union" Sunday, the Kentucky Republican stuck by his stance that Obama's successor ought to fill the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

"I can't imagine that a Republican majority Congress in a lame duck session after the American people have spoken would want to confirm a nominee opposed by the NRA, the NFIB, and the New York Times says would move the court dramatically to the left," McConnell said. "This nomination ought to be made by the next president."

He also criticized Garland, arguing that opposition to his nomination from the National Rifle Association and the National Federation of Independent Businesses shows he's too liberal.

Asked if he's ruling out the possibility of a lame duck confirmation entirely, McConnell said: "Yes."

Read More