PONCH AND JOHN:

Senate already marching to a Republican drumbeat: Bush's picks could clear even before GOP takes official control (CHARLES HURT, Nov. 14, 2002 , Charlotte Observer)

Bush nominated U.S. District Judge Dennis Shedd to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., 18 months ago. When his nomination came to the committee for a vote in October, the Democrats -- including N.C. Sen. John Edwards -- voted to put Shedd on ice for good.

Had committee Democrats -- who hold a one-vote advantage over Republicans -- submitted Shedd's nomination for a vote by the full Senate, he likely would have been approved. S.C. Democrat Sen. Fritz Hollings, among others, supports Shedd. [...]

Among those who will vote against Shedd today is Edwards, according to spokesman Mike Briggs. He opposes Shedd for his "troubling record on civil rights," Briggs said.

Edwards' future force on the judiciary committee, however, is in question. As the last Democrat to join the committee, Edwards will likely be the one to get kicked off in favor of a new Republican when the GOP officially takes control of the Senate.

Judge Shedd is just the first of a series of tough calls for Senator Edwards. It may look good to have voted against conservative judges in a Democrat presidential primary debate, but it can't help when you're up for re-election in NC. And, of course, the toughest call of all for such folks is going to be Miguel Estrada, who Left lobby groups oppose, but a vote against whom seems unlikely to play well with Hispanic voters.
Posted by Orrin Judd at November 14, 2002 8:48 AM