member high court to the right on abortion, civil rights and other hot-button issues. The Senate began its debate a day after its Judiciary Committee split 10-8 along party lines to approve Bush's second justice on the high court, which he promised to make more conservative. Democrats have not threatened a filibuster since they do not appear to have the votes to sustain such a procedural roadblock. But they have made clear that they intend to make Alito and the high-court an issue in the November congressional elections. Republicans have said that they would welcome such a debate and argued that Alito is far more mainstream than the Democrats' supporters. "I support Judge Alito because he has a record that demonstrates a respect for judicial restraint, an aversion to political agendas on the bench, and a commitment to the rule of law and the Constitution," Frist said. Republicans have also warned Democrats that their opposition to Alito could come back to hurt them when a future Democratic president offers a high-court nominee. Traditionally, the Senate has approved successful Supreme Court nominees with broad bipartisan support, but Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican, charged that Democrats have sought to mount opposition to Alito to score political points. The "knife cuts both ways," Sessions said. "If this is affirmed, then it will be more difficult in the future for Democratic presidents to have their nominees confirmed." Republican backers have hailed Alito as a fair-minded judge who had received the American Bar Association's top rating. But Democratic critics say he has staked out some extreme positions on such matters as abortion, civil rights and presidential powers. A confirmation vote is expected at the end of this week or early next week. With Republicans holding 55 of 100 seats in the chamber, Alito appears certain to be approved. The Senate vote on Alito is expected to be far closer than the 78-22 one that John Roberts, Bush's first nomination to the high court, received in September in being confirmed as U.S. chief justice. Half of the Senate's 44 Democrats voted for Roberts but only one of them, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, has announced he will vote for Alito. All but a few other Democrats appear certain to oppose him.
