"I have found that . . . in politics patience is a virtue," Leavitt told the Deseret Morning News. "I will continue the path that I am on, and I continue to feel optimistic."

He said he was as responsive as possible to questions sent to him. "But many call for a judgment on the cases concerned," he said. "Rather than decide the entire caseload before them, it is best to realize there are two sides to every story. And as a matter of fairness, I need to hear from all sides before making decisions." So he promised to look into the issues and act appropriately.

Jeffords, however, said Leavitt failed to respond when asked his own knowledge or view of key environmental issues.

Inhofe protested loudly that Democrats have created a double-standard in how they judge GOP-nominee Leavitt and former EPA Administrator Carol Browner, who was nominated by Democrat Bill Clinton.

Inhofe released a side-by-side comparison of responses by Browner and Leavitt that showed both often vowed in similar language to similar questions to look into specifics of EPA actions after confirmation and to make any appropriate changes.

"Gov. Leavitt's answer, for some reason, is not good enough for the Democrats, though it was just fine for Carol Browner," he said.

"Could it be that this is all about President Bush, and the fact that he's up for re-election next November?" Inhofe said. "I would note that two, and possible three, members of this committee are running for president, one of whom chose to attend a presidential fund-raiser rather than sit through Gov. Leavitt's hearing."

Committee members Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., (who missed Leavitt's hearing) and Bob Graham, D-Fla., are running for president, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is rumored to be considering it.

Lieberman and Clinton have vowed to block a vote in the full Senate on Leavitt, as have fellow presidential candidates John Kerry, D-Mass., and John Edwards, D-N.C. All say they want a variety of answers about Bush environmental actions and will block any vote unless they obtain them.

Lieberman issued a statement Wednesday saying, "If a job applicant had refused to seriously answer your questions, would you hire him? Until Gov. Leavitt comes clean and shows the respect for the American people we expect in an EPA administrator, I will continue to join a number of other senators and object to the Senate moving his confirmation."

Inhofe tentatively scheduled another business meeting for Oct. 14, when he hopes enough Democrats will attend to allow a vote. Warner said of Republicans, "We'll all be here."

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com