During his weekly radio address, George W. Bush staked a claim to bipartisanship by pointing to Democrats like Robert Byrd who are supporting the nomination of Samuel Alito. Now two can play that came: Lincoln Chafee, the Republican senator from Rhode Island, said this morning that he’ll vote against Alito’s confirmation. “I am a pro-choice, pro-environment, pro-Bill of Rights Republican, and I will be voting against this nomination,” Chafee said.
Chafee is the only Republican senator to announce opposition to Alito’s nomination so far. Fifty-three of the 55 Republicans in the Senate have already said they’ll vote in favor of confirming the nominee. The 55th Republican — Olympia Snowe of Maine — hasn’t said how she’ll vote yet.
