Specter assails 'lynch mob' seeking Miers

Specter's remarks amounted to a tacit rebuke of conservatives. Also, they were significant because last year conservatives delayed his ascension to the helm of the Judiciary Committee, which considers federal judicial nominees before the full Senate votes on confirmation, because they were concerned he might not be sufficiently steadfast in supporting President Bush's future Supreme Court choices. Specter favors abortion rights, and has promoted embryonic stem cell research, positions that have angered many conservatives.

Bush nominated Miers last week to succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The nomination of Miers, Bush's White House counsel and formerly his personal lawyer in Texas, provoked charges of cronyism as well as concerns among religious conservatives that she may be too moderate on social issues such as abortion rights.

Specter stopped short of saying whether he would support Miers and expressed concern about her limited experience with issues of constitutional law. As a lawyer in Texas, she mainly focused on business disputes.

Specter said he would question Miers about her qualifications and her views on issues, including the role of precedent in the judicial process, when the Judiciary Committee he heads takes up the nomination. He said it would be inappropriate to ask Miers whether she would uphold Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that gave women a constitutional right to an abortion.

Miers's supporters continued to paint her as a conservative with an open mind who would approach legal problems on a case-by-case basis.

The Senate Republican whip, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, predicted ''rock solid" support for Miers among Senate Republicans. ''I haven't sensed any discontent of any consequence," he said on CNN's ''Late Edition."

Nathan Hecht, a Texas Supreme Court justice and a longtime friend of Miers who has been speaking out on her behalf over the last week with the support of the White House, said that while Miers had long opposed abortion she would set aside her personal views when deciding cases. ''Legal issues and personal issues are just two different things," Hecht said on ''Fox News Sunday."