Axelrod predicts GOP support for Kagan

President Barack Obama’s top adviser predicted Friday that Solicitor General Elena
Kagan will receive Republican support when her nomination hearings begin next
week.

David Axelrod told reporters on a conference call that Kagan
is well qualified to serve on the Supreme Court, and “this should be an easy
decision for the [Judiciary] committee and the Senate.”

{mosads}”I think that there will be many Republicans who will vote for this
nominee, but how many I don’t know,” Axelrod said.

The “charged” partisan atmosphere will prevent some from
supporting her, Axelrod said.

Kagan, Obama’s second nominee to the high court, has spent several hours a day
in the last week fielding questions from White House aides in preparation for
her hearing, he said.

The White House is confident Kagan will be confirmed with solid Democratic
support and some Republicans crossing the aisle.

Axelrod said that the White House and Kagan are prepared for intense questioning
from Republicans.

“We live in an extraordinarily political climate, and therefore we are preparing
to make a vigorous case,” Axelrod said on a conference call. “And we understand
that, merits notwithstanding, there will be points raised, and we’ll be ready. And
she’s certainly prepared to deal with whatever comes.”

Axelrod said Republicans have been unable to “sustain” a line of attack against
Kagan. Calling the GOP an “opposition in search of a rationale,” Axelrod said
Kagan’s detractors have been “jumping around” and unable to make anything
stick.

“It is not surprising to me that there are a lot of folks on the Republican
side that would like a different nominee,” Axelrod said. “That’s the nature of
our system.”

Kagan will have met with 62 senators from both parties by the time the hearings
get underway, according to White House general counsel Bob Bauer.

“Any questions about her experience are going to be laid to rest,” Bauer said.