Lieberman to join Dodd in opposing Alito's confirmation (AP)

[kpete]

Lieberman to join Dodd in opposing Alito's confirmation

January 26, 2006, 1:10 PM EST


WASHINGTON -- Connecticut Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman will vote against confirming Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, a senior Lieberman aide said Thursday.

Aide Rob Sawicki said Lieberman would have no further comment until he takes the floor of the Senate, where the confirmation debate continued Thursday.

Fifty-one Republicans are supporting Alito, guaranteeing his confirmation as the replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who throughout her years on the high court often has been a key fifth vote on contentious social issues including abortion, affirmative action and the death penalty.

Two Democratic senators, Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Ben Nelson of Nebraska, have said they will vote for Alito.

More than two dozen others _ including independent Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont _ have said they will vote against Alito.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--alito-lieberman0126jan26,0,6365140.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut