US Supreme Court nominee John Roberts got past the US Senate Judiciary Committee by a comfortable margin of 13-5. Surprisingly, among the three Democrats to support Roberts was Wisconsin Senator and probable Presidential candidate Russ Feingold. The other two Democrats to support Roberts were Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy and Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl.
Feingold bucked the left wing of his party, something that may hurt him in the Democratic Presidential primaries in 2008. Feingold previously ignored the left wing of his party by supporting John Ashcroft when he was a nominee for US Attorney General.
We'll see what the reaction is from his left wing supporters who previously praised his lone opposition to the Patriot Act and his calling for the setting of a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.
As for motive, it's hard to guess a tactical motive. Perhaps it now looks like a bad weekend in New Hampshire and he's decided to end the rumors now that he's running for President.
