WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-8 along party lines Tuesday to recommend that Samuel Alito be confirmed by the full Senate.
Alito, a federal appeals court judge, was nominated by President George Bush last year to replace the retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Debate on the nomination by the full Senate will begin Wednesday and a partisan split on the vote is expected, although at least one Democrat has said he will vote to confirm Alito. With 55 Republicans in the Senate, Alito's confirmation would seem to be assured.
Prior to the committee's vote, a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll found 54 percent of respondents in the United States saying they would like to see the Senate vote in favor of confirmation, while 30 percent would not.
Opponents argue Alito's previously stated stances on issues such as individual rights and executive power make his a questionable choice to join the Supreme Court.
