WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- The Bush administration is courting moderate Democrats to support the Supreme Court nomination of conservative U.S. Judge Samuel Alito.
Tuesday Alito was sent on a get-acquainted session with Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., and arranged for the nominee to meet Wednesday with two other Democratic moderates, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, and Mark Pryor of Arkansas, The Washington Post said.
"I think it would be natural to try to reach out to people who hadn't yet taken a position or might give some consideration," said former Sen. Daniel Coats, R-Ind., whom the White House has enlisted to guide Alito though the Senate.
President Bush nominated Alito, a federal appeals judge, to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor after his first nominee, White House Counsel Harriet Miers withdrew.
Alito has a 15-year conservative voting record on abortion, civil rights, affirmative action, gun control and the death penalty, and Democrats have warned they may filibuster his nomination.
Republicans have 55 seats in the Senate, and it takes 60 votes to defeat a filibuster.
Bush said he wants a vote on the Alito nomination before the end of the year but no date for confirmation hearings has been set.
