ST. PAUL -- Minnesota and North Dakota senators' reaction to the Samuel Alito Supreme Court nomination generally fell along partisan lines, with Democrats saying they will give the nominee a chance to testify and Republicans praising him.
The states' U.S. senators, who will vote on whether to confirm Alito, did not say how they would vote, although Republicans voiced stronger support than Democrats.
"This is a nomination to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, who has traditionally been a swing vote on the U.S. Supreme Court on many important issues," U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said.
"For that reason, I will be interested to learn and understand the approach Judge Alito will take on a number of the important matters."
The states' only Republican senator left no doubt he liked President Bush's Monday morning announcement for the man he wants to replace O'Connor, but Sen. Norm Coleman stopped short of saying he would back Alito.
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"Judge Alito's outstanding qualifications appear to meet the standard of excellence for Supreme Court nominees, and I look forward to a careful review of the nominee's credentials so that we may have a full, working bench as soon as possible," Coleman said.
Democratic Sens. Mark Dayton of Minnesota and Kent Conrad of North Dakota joined Dorgan in saying they would withhold most comment until after committee hearings.
"I will withhold my judgment on the nominee until I have the chance to review his record, and until the conclusion of the Judiciary Committee's hearings," Dayton said.
Many Democrats were skeptical, figuring Alito would be too conservative for their tastes after the Harriet Miers nomination died last week at the hands of the political right. The GOP's right wing thought Miers might not be conservative enough.
Much of the discussion about Alito centers on his abortion opposition, but Conrad said that is just one issue of many senators should examine.
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