Kagan nomination could influence November elections

WASHINGTON — Both Democratsnorthface jackets and Republicans say they expect Solicitor General Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court to become

an issue in November's greenn-blog-grenncongressional elections, even though outside experts say her Senate confirmation is likely to be uneventful.
Indeed, it already has become an election issue in some states.In Arizona , where incumbent Sen. John McCain , R- Ariz. , is fighting for his

political life,chasing you ultra-conservative GOP challenger J.D. Hayworth is clubbing McCain with Kagan's nomination, challenging him to oppose her.
In Pennsylvania , Rep. Joe Sestak , the Democratic challenger to former Republican-turned-Democratic incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter , is blasting

Specter for voting against Kagan's confirmation as solicitor general last year, when Specter was in the GOP .
"Both sides are going to work it," said Brad Coker , managing partner of Mason-Dixon Polling &sianrch Research. "She'll get confirmed, but it's a matter

of how much hay (Republicans and Democrats) can make on the nomination."Experts say both parties have something to gain in bringing up

Kagan on the campaign trail, though her nomination presents a trickier proposition for some Democrats.
Kareem Crayton , a University of Southern California political science and law professor, said Kagan's nomination could serve as a rallying tool for

liberal Democrats — a reminder of what the party can accomplish when it controls the White House and Congress ,SMOOTHY WIND and what could be lost if

Democrats don't go to the polls in force to keep their congressional majority.However, moderate and conservative Democrats may pass on

touting Kagan's nomination on the stump, fearing that her views might not appeal to their supporters.
"It will all be dependent on the (confirmation) hearings," Crayton said. "For conservative Democrats, they will be hopeful that big social hot-

button issues don't come out in the hearings, because they could perceived as out of step with constituents, particularly in the South." http://board.b1g.de
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