War of words

Politics | The battle lines are blurry as activists target swing senators over Alito | Lynn Vincent

When a certain batch of senators flew to their home states for Thanksgiving, the Committee for Justice (CFJ) was there, waiting. Throughout the holiday week, CFJ, an advocacy group that supports the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Samuel Alito, ran pro-Alito television and radio ads in Montana, Colorado, West Virginia, Nebraska, Arkansas, and the Dakotas—all Bush-supporting red states represented by at least one Democratic senator, each one a potential Alito swing vote.

Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, a grassroots coalition of activists who oppose Mr. Alito—but support gay rights, unionism, and abortion—targeted Sen. Lincoln Chafee. Like his Democratic colleagues in Bush country, the pro-abortion lawmaker is considered a pivotal Alito vote. He's also a Republican up for reelection next year in a heavily Democratic state, a fact anti-Alito activists know may cause him to pivot left.