GOP's Alexander to Vote for Sotomayor

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the third-ranking Republican in the Senate, announced Thursday that he will vote to confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court, making him the highest-ranking member of his party to endorse her.

"Even though Judge Sotomayor's political and judicial philosophy may be different than mine, especially regarding Second Amendments rights," Alexander said on the Senate floor, "I will vote to confirm her because she is well qualified by experience, temperament, character and intellect to serve as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court."

Most of the Republican senators who have announced how they will vote have said they will oppose her, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

-- Perry Bacon Jr.