Confirmation seems near for Alito

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito took a victory lap in the Senate on Wednesday, accepting congratulations from Republican leaders as lawmakers moved toward confirming him in a largely party-line vote.

A few hours after the final confirmation debate began, Alito met with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Majority Whip Mitch McConnell and Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter in a U.S. Capitol room that directly faces the neighboring Supreme Court.

The conservative judge shook their hands and joked with the Republican leaders and thanked them for their efforts as senators debated his nomination on the Senate floor. Alito, who had met privately with more than 80 senators since his October nomination, thanked "all of the senators who supported me and were kind enough to meet with me."

The New Jersey jurist was chosen by President Bush to be the replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

"I call on the United States Senate to put partisanship aside and give Judge Alito the up-or-down vote he deserves," Bush said at the White House, "and confirm him as the next associate justice of the Supreme Court."

Alito has enough support from 51 Republicans and Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska to assure his confirmation.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, joined other Republicans Wednesday in praising Alito on the Senate floor.

"Judge Samuel Alito is eminently qualified to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States," Hatch said.

"The second reason Judge Alito should be confirmed is that he is a man of character and integrity. I have been struck throughout this process that the level of respect and praise for Judge Alito's character and integrity is directly related to how well people know him, how closely they have worked with him," Hatch added.

The chamber's Democrats showed little interest in a filibuster, and Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu said she would vote against the delaying tactic, calling it "very, very counterproductive."

The 100-member Senate is expected to confirm Alito with a majority vote before Bush's State of the Union address Jan. 31.

"We're on the final leg," Frist, R-Tenn., assured Alito before congratulating the 55-year-old judge from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.