The call by Democrats John Kerry and Edward Kennedy for a filibuster of President Bush's nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court grew on Friday, as several more senators signed on to the effort, including Hillary Clinton and Joseph Biden. However, a contingent of Democrats led by Barack Obama (D-IL), and including Harry Reid and Charles Schumer, has publicly criticized the idea of filibustering Judge Alito, saying that Democrats need to oppose judicial nominees by convincing Americans that "their values are at stake" if Republican-nominated judges are confirmed, rather than trying to stop nominees through "stalling tactics."
The potential filibuster would require 60 votes for cloture (ending the move and bringing the issue to a floor vote), and the Associated Press reports that, including the recently announced anti-filibuster Democrats, there are 62 potential votes in the body. Should the nomination come to an up-or-down vote, President Bush appears to have 56 votes (53 Republican and 3 Democrat) in support of Alito's confirmation.
The floor vote on Judge Alito has been scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 31, as Senator Frist is attempting to have Judge Alito confirmed in time for the President's State of the Union address that night.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183130,00.html
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