Kagan nomination easily advances

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, sending it to the full Senate for a vote before the August recess. The 13–6 vote broke down almost entirely along party lines, with South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham the only Republican voting for approval.

Graham said he differed with Kagan on judicial philosophy, but said he believes that President Obama had nominated a fully qualified candidate. “The Constitution in my view puts a requirement on me not to substitute my judgment for his,” Graham said. The vote virtually guarantees Graham a GOP primary challenge when he comes up for re-election, in 2014.

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