WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE 20%?

Red-State Democrats Tilt to Yes on Roberts (Jim VandeHei, September 4, 2005, Washington Post)

Sen. Kent Conrad, a Democrat from North Dakota, sounds like a swooning Republican when he talks about Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr.

"I am impressed with his demeanor, his intelligence, his sense of humor, his modesty," said Conrad. "Absent some bombshell, which I don't expect, I think he will be confirmed and quite handily."

Praise like this is bad news for the nearly 30 liberal special interest groups calling on Democrats to block Roberts's rise to the Supreme Court. But it is good politics for Democrats such as Conrad who are running for reelection in states that President Bush won, according to several senators and strategists.

With the confirmation hearings expected to focus extensively on Roberts's views on abortion, affirmative action and other social issues, a number of Democrats say it would be unwise politically for Conrad and the five other red-state senators to side with liberal groups such as People for the American Way and NARAL Pro-Choice America. [...][

Nearly six in 10 Americans -- 57 percent -- say the Senate should confirm Roberts to the high court while 22 percent say it should not, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. That's virtually identical to the results of a Post-ABC poll taken immediately after Bush nominated him five weeks ago, suggesting the drumbeat of criticism from liberal groups has had little effect.