So the Bloodbath Begins

Conservative opponents of Sen. Arlen Specter’s bid to become Senate Judiciary Committee chairman are flooding Republican committee members with calls demanding he be passed over.

But Specter also has been making calls in an effort to cement his chairmanship, one official told The Associated Press. Without any change in the support of the leaders who backed his re-election last week, Specter is likely to take over as chairman of the committee that will consider President Bush’s judicial nominees.

Specter embarked on a media blitz Monday to help repair the damage from his comment last week that anti-abortion judges would be unlikely to be confirmed by the Senate. He told CNN, “I think I can help the president and I think I can help the country.” (source)