Kagan Whip Count: Specter A Yes
The confirmation hearings are over, and senators have begun to make up their minds about Solicitor General Elena Kagan. We're keeping a whip count of Kagan backers and her opponents in advance of this month's floor debate.
A note on methodology: We assume a vast majority -- if not all -- of the Dem caucus will vote to confirm Kagan. But we're going to be sticklers for a firm 'yes' -- or the very strong hint of a 'yes' in an interview.
YES VOTES: 13
Sens. Michael Bennet (report), Ben Cardin (statement), Dick Durbin (floor speech^, 7/12), Russ Feingold (statement), Al Franken (interview), Ted Kaufman (statement), Amy Klobuchar (interview*), Patrick Leahy (statement), Jeff Merkley (report), Arlen Specter (op-ed), Debbie Stabenow (statement), Mark Udall (statement), Sheldon Whitehouse (interview^^).
NO VOTES: 12
Sens. Bob Bennett (statement), John Cornyn (statement), Jim DeMint (op-ed), Orrin Hatch (statement), Jim Inhofe (statement), Johnny Isakson (statement), Mike Johanns (statement), John McCain (op-ed), Mitch McConnell (statement), Lisa Murkowski (statement), John Thune (statement), David Vitter (statement).
Update: On Thursday afternoon, both Feingold and Stabenow released statements saying they would vote for Kagan.
^ -- Durbin, in a 7/12 floor speech: "When the time comes, and I hope it comes soon, maybe within the next week or so, I will be proud to cast a vote in favor of the nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court."
* -- We're counting Klobuchar as a 'yes' vote. She told CongressDaily's Dan Friedman: "Obviously, you know how I am going to vote."
^^ - Whitehouse, in an interview with CongressDaily's Friedman: "Yes. I do know that I will vote for Kagan."
Four more Yes and one No
All links to Kagan Senator Statements are on my website Judging the Environment (one word dot org)
Hotline Whip Count still needs to add four YES
Feinstein (statement on her website); Dorgan (statement on Senatus); Landrieu (Politico interview); Stabenow (statement on her website)
and one No
Chambliss (statement on his website)
-Glenn Sugameli
Judging the Environment
Defenders of Wildlife
Washington, D.C.