ConfirmThem

By AndrewHyman Comments () / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

As our holding pattern continues on the nomination of another Supreme Court justice, here are some fresh poll results from CNN/USA Today/Gallup:

While many have speculated that Bush may choose a woman or racial or ethnic minority to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, few Americans see this as an essential quality of the next nominee....

Here are the numbers:

* Fifty-five percent say it does not matter if the next justice is a woman, while 14% say it is essential the next justice is female, and 29% say it is a good idea, but not essential.

* Sixty-nine percent say it does not matter if the next justice is Hispanic; only 3% say it is essential and 23% say it is a good idea.

* Seventy-one percent say it does not matter if the next justice is black, 5% say it is essential, and 22% say it is a good idea.

In all cases, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to see these characteristics as either essential or desirable qualities in the next justice, while the vast majority of Republicans say none of these characteristics matters to them.

Hat Tip: The Next Hurrah.