A bipartisan group of 14 senators who averted an earlier showdown over President George W. Bush's judicial nominees said on Thursday it was too early to know if they would permit a Democratic filibuster against Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, reported Reuters. "We are united in a wait-and-see approach," said Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona as he emerged from the first meeting of "The Group of 14" since Bush nominated the conservative appellate judge to the high court on Monday. Two Republicans in the group had earlier said they would personally oppose a Democratic tactic to block a Senate vote on Alito. But the full group of seven Republicans and seven Democrats decided to withhold final judgment, lawmakers said. If confirmed by the Senate, Alito would replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a moderate conservative who has often been the swing vote on the nine-member court on abortion and other hot-button social issues. Republicans control the Senate, holding 55 of the 100 seats. A simple majority is needed for confirmation, but 60 votes would be needed to end a filibuster, a procedure used by the minority to keep the Senate from voting on issues. --SP 2311 Local Time 2011 GMT
