Parrying continues over Sotomayor's nomination

Sotomayor, who grew up in a New York City housing project and went on to Princeton and Yale universities, "says she still looks over her shoulder and wonders if she measures up," Obama said.

It was a subtle but pointed counter to Republicans who have questioned whether the nominee would let her personal biases interfere with her judicial decisions. Those critics have principally drawn on Sotomayor's speeches and writings about how her background affects her work as a judge.

Earlier yesterday, Gingrich told supporters in a letter that he shouldn't have called Sotomayor a racist, adding the word had been "perhaps too strong and direct." But he said the 2001 speech that prompted his remark, in which Sotomayor said she hoped the rulings of a "wise Latina" would be better than those of a white male without similar experiences, was still unacceptable.

Gingrich conceded that Sotomayor's rulings have "shown more caution and moderation" than her speeches and writings, but he said the 2001 comments "reveal a betrayal of a fundamental principle of the American system - that everyone is equal before the law."

Sotomayor, 54, would be the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the high court.

Gingrich's comments and similar ones by radio host Rush Limbaugh - who yesterday said Sotomayor would bring racism and bigotry to the court - have enraged Sotomayor's backers and caused problems for GOP figures who have been pushing to bring more diversity to the party.

Hispanic groups began a political push to force Republicans to denounce harshly worded criticism of Sotomayor, warning that their votes could depend on it.

"These gross mischaracterizations of Judge Sotomayor coupled with the deafening silence of the Republican leadership are leaving many within our community with a disturbing picture of the Republican Party. Much hangs in the balance, including our votes," said Janet Murguia, the president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza.