4 Senate Demos announce their Alito vote: 1 yea, 3 nay

WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito has caused a rift among Senate Democrats, with one saying publicly he will vote for the conservative judge while others are lining up to oppose his confirmation.

Democrats Max Baucus of Montana, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts all announced Wednesday they will vote against Alito, President Bush's pick to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

"He's just not right for Montana, he's just not right for America," Baucus said. Added Mikulski, "I have a lot of unanswered questions."

But Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska announced Tuesday he will support Alito, the only Democrat to do so. Nelson said he will support Alito "because of his impeccable judicial credentials, the American Bar Association's strong recommendation and his pledge that he would not bring a political agenda to the court."

Nelson, who is seeking re-election this fall in his Republican state, said in his statement that he has "supported more than 215 of President Bush's nominations to the federal bench, including Chief Justice John Roberts."

Several Democrats are expected to make their votes public Thursday, including Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. Leahy and two other committee Democrats -- Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl, both of Wisconsin -- voted for now-Chief Justice John Roberts' confirmation.

Others plan to wait to reveal their votes after the Judiciary Committee votes Tuesday on Alito's nomination.

All 10 Republicans on the Judiciary Committee have endorsed Alito, assuring him of approval even though most of the eight committee Democrats are expected to oppose his confirmation.

Many Democrats are expected to speak against Alito's nomination when final Senate debate begins Jan. 25. "I'm not a fan of Alito," said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Alito met Wednesday with several Democratic senators, including Baucus, Bill Nelson of Florida and Ron Wyden of Oregon. He was meeting Thursday with Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware and new Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. All those senators except Baucus are undecided on Alito's nomination.

Alito will also meet with Republicans John Sununu of Rhode Island and John Warner of Virginia on Thursday. Sununu is undecided, while Warner expects to vote for Alito's confirmation.

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