Ohio Governor John Kasich, one of three Republicans left in the presidential race and widely considered a moderate, has come out with praise for President Obama’s selection to replace Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. When asked on Face the Nation whether he would also nominate Merrick Garland if president, Kasich responded, “Well, you know, he received you know overwhelming support, I think even from Senator Hatch, so of course we’d think about it.”

Garland did receive praise from some Republican members of Congress when he was appointed to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1996. However, at that time he had not acquired much of a record, having been in private practice and an attorney for the Department of Justice. Since then he has made several left-leaning decisions, including ruling against the Second Amendment and approving sweeping regulations from government agencies such as the EPA.

Kasich also criticized Republicans for holding up the nominating process. He told host John Dickerson, “Frankly, they probably ought to all sit down and meet with the guy.” However, in the past, when a contentious opening on the Supreme Court has come up during a president’s last year, it has generally been deferred to the next president to nominate someone.

Kasich later walked back his comment about considering Garland, saying that he was only making “an effort to be polite” and that Garland is “not gonna be my pick for the Supreme Court.”