Samuel Alito Watch: Gang of 14 Fractured

Judge Samuel Alito, left, meets with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2005, to discuss Alito’s nomination to the Supreme Court.

The ASSociated Press has Senate’s ‘Gang of 14’ Fractures Over Alito.

The 14 centrists who averted a Senate breakdown over judicial nominees last spring are showing signs of splintering on President Bush’s latest nominee for the Supreme Court.

That is weakening the hand of Democrats opposed to conservative judge Samuel Alito and enhancing his prospects for confirmation.

The unity of the seven Democrats and the seven Republicans in the “Gang of 14” was all that halted a major filibuster fight between GOP leader Bill Frist and Democratic leader Harry Reid earlier this year over Bush’s nominees.

Will the Democrats risk losing more Senate seats in 2006 by filibustering Alito?

The early defection of two of the group’s Republicans, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, will give the GOP the upper hand if Democrats decide to attempt a filibuster of Alito, the New Jersey jurist nominated Monday to replace Sandra Day O’Connor.

Flap handicaps a 50-50 chance of a Democrat filibuster of Alito.

If the Nuclear-Constitutional Rule Change option is not enacted, cloture does not pass, and the filibuster is sustained then Bush nominates Judge Luttig.

Another filibuster?