As the AP headlines in a decided understatement, Judge Sonia Sotomayor's hearings for the Supreme Court seat vacated by Justice David Souter make her a prohibitive shoo-in - and she will have to commit a monumental faux pas or have a scandalous revelation of epic proportions to derail her. With 60 Democrats in the Senate and a cheering media in the stands, Sotomayor can almost take her victory laps now.
However, the Republicans should go for broke as far as making key points to ensure this isn't a coronation, even against such heavy winds.
Still, Republicans signaled that they will press the 55-year-old New Yorker and veteran federal judge to explain past rulings involving discrimination complaints and gun rights, as well as comments that they say raise doubts about Sotomayor's ability to judge cases fairly.
The sharpest comments about her so far came Sunday from Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the senior Republican on the committee.
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