Sotomayor could capture decent GOP support

WASHINGTON, June 1 (UPI) -- Democrat and Republican vote-counters say U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor could get at least a third of the Senate GOP vote for her confirmation.

Topping both parties' counters are the seven Republican senators who supported Sotomayor's 1998 confirmation to the federal appeals court -- Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, Orrin Hatch of Utah, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, Richard Lugar of Indiana, Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Robert Bennett of Utah, The New York Times reported Monday.

Other factors that could prompt broad support among the chamber's 40 Republicans include representation of large Hispanic populations for several senators in Southwestern states, senators holding progressive views on civil rights and retirements that may prompt some senators to buck the party, the Times said.

The set of circumstances suggest that, if Judge Sotomayor does well at the Senate confirmation hearings, she could approach the broad support that Chief Justice John Roberts enjoyed in 2005, when the Democratic caucus split 22 for his confirmation, 22 against, the Times reported.