Alito taking pre-victory lap

WASHINGTON – On the verge of a second successful Supreme Court appointment, the White House flexed its judicial muscles Wednesday, sending Samuel Alito to the Capitol for an early victory lap and renaming a contentious appellate court nominee whom Democrats managed to block in past years.

Just hours after Senate debate opened on his nomination to the Supreme Court, Alito posed for photographs and congratulations with Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and other senior GOP senators. Although a Senate confirmation vote is not expected until Friday at the earliest – and possibly as late as Tuesday – the group acted as if the result was not in doubt. Alito, an appellate judge for the past 15 years, thanked “all of the senators who supported me and were kind enough to meet with me.”

Senate debate on Alito’s confirmation opened with Republicans praising him and Democrats calling him a threat to long-established rights such as access to abortion in all 50 states.

“He has voted to narrow that circle, to restrict the rights that Americans hold dear,” Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., said.

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said Alito “is highly qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.”