WASHINGTON, DC (REUTERS) - US President Donald Trump used his weekly address on Friday to promote Supreme Court pick Mr Neil Gorsuch, saying the nominee was "incredibly qualified".

Senate Democrats on Friday (March 31) were a step closer to having enough votes to block a confirmation vote on Trump's Supreme Court nominee with three more Democratic senators coming out against Mr Gorsuch for the lifetime job as a justice.

Democrats are attempting to use a procedural hurdle called a filibuster that requires 60 votes to allow a confirmation vote in the 100-seat US Senate. Senate Republicans are hoping to vote on April 7 to confirm the conservative appeals court judge nominated by the Republican president in January.

Republicans control the Senate 52-48. But if Democrats can muster 41 votes, they would be able to sustain the filibuster.

As of Friday afternoon, 36 Democrats had indicated their support for such a move. Two Democrats have said they support Mr Gorsuch. Another two have voiced opposition to him, but have not made clear whether they would support a filibuster to block a confirmation vote.

If confirmed by the Senate to fill a vacancy created by the February 2016 death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, Mr Gorsuch would reinstate the nine-seat high court's conservative majority at a time when Republicans control Congress and the White House.