Supreme Court Nods: Popularity Contest?

" Well confirmation hearings are now under way for judge Sonia. Sotomayor and this is alive. Picture of what's going on there right you yeah areas that Charles Schumer from New York. Question her right now our next guest has a study that says a nominee's chances or is simple. As a popularity contest joining us senator relaxed he's assisted profit Columbia University -- so."

" The strongest factors that can work for a nominee are being relatively moderate with respect to where the sedatives. And the Senate in democratic control now officials have an easy shop there. But what we found is that offenders pay a lot of attention to what their constituents want when they're voting on confirmation these are very important votes. They're very visible votes through easy to -- to an up or down vote it's not inside baseball a lot of procedural. Votes in between. And -- senators really do care about how. -- as -- and poll just came out today showing that her negatives right now again this is a very fickle indicator but right now negatives outweigh her positives so. If they're taken a direct stimulus these these senators from their constituents. Might they not be more critical -- the vote these are these polls are showing that were her constituents nationwide want to see her confirmed. I think the latest poll has two to one in her favor. And those are really high numbers and we're going to see more people form an opinion. As he gets closer to those -- even know they're they're tending their they're trending against her there's still overwhelming support for yes and it. The numbers in your favor are on par with that I think here. Then judge Alito judge Robert. It be very surprising. -- new comes out something that these hearings are designed or unless there is such a focus on the one issue of whether she supports type of reverse discrimination which most Americans overwhelmingly you're against. If -- focus in that way like we saw from senator Jeff Sessions earlier. Might that have any effect on whether she makes it. Well my best guess is that this is initiating talking about for some time that the house had traction yet I don't think it will. In particular because these hearings are pretty boring me people like you and I might watch them but once -- like golf media don't want to keep you watching these things and enjoying it. But it's very -- she's going to say anything particularly shocking. It's hard to make that sell. As senator Lindsey Graham put it. You know -- you have a complete meltdown she's going to get confirmed which. Even suggest you have a partial meltdown and still get confirmed fell right Jeff relax assistant professor at Columbia University thank you very much for greater --"