SCOTUS Sotomayor Confirmation: GOP count is up to five that will support Sotomayor

United States Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is the latest member of the GOP to announce his support for United States Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor. This increases the number to five Republican Senators that have announced their intention to vote for Sotomayor’s confirmation to the highest court in the land. This list includes Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snow from Maine, Mel Martinez from Florida, and Richard Lugar from Indiana.

It is expected that all 60 Democratic members will support Judge Sotomayor’s confirmation and that there are a few more GOP members yet to announce their support. While Lindsey Graham’s support of Sotomayor didn’t change the likely outcome of the vote, his support is significant as Graham is increasingly being viewed as the leader of a rebranded GOP in need of a steady Captain.

Here is Senator Graham’s statement from the floor of the United States Senate today, announcing his intention to support Judge Sotomayor: