Bernie Sanders gives surprising answer on Obama’s Supreme Court pick after question from Daily News reader

One of the most surprising answers of the debate — in which Sen.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders each offered their thoughts on President Obama Seth Wenig/AP
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders each offered their thoughts on President Obama's Supreme Court nominee during the New York primary debate.

One of the most surprising answers of the debate — in which Sen. Bernie Sanders revealed he would ask President Obama's Supreme Court pick to withdraw his nomination — came from a question submitted by a Daily News reader.

New York University Ph.D student Hannah Greene, 25, was one of hundreds of New Yorkers who submitted a question to the News for the NY1-CNN debate.

"I was honored that my question was asked," said Greene, who had no idea that she was picked until she heard moderator Errol Louis read it.

Greene wanted to know if the candidates would commit to keeping Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she was "going to support the President," but stopped short of saying she'd keep Garland.

"When I am President, I will take stock of where we are and move from there," she said.

*** BESTPIX *** Chip Somodevilla
President Obama watches as Merrick Garland, his nomination for the Supreme Court, speaks at the White House.

Sanders called it an "outrage" that Senate Republicans are blocking the nomination, but said he'd ask Obama to withdraw the nomination if he's elected.

"We need a Supreme Court Justice who will make it crystal clear, and this nominee has not yet done that, that he or she will vote to overturn Citizens United," he said.

Greene said she submitted the question because she believes that Obama's choice must be respected.

GONZALEZ: WHEN VOTING CLINTON OR SANDERS, ACTIONS MATTER, NOT WORDS

"I think it's incredibly important to support President Obama's right to appoint a nominee," she said. "It's disrespectful to the President, and the Americans that elected him, not to consider his nominee for the Supreme Court."

She is particularly concerned that the Affordable Care Act will be overturned, which she said has benefited her personally.