Baucus Now Says He Will Support Sotomayor

After reportedly saying he “had no idea” how he’d vote on Sotomayor, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) now says he will support her, according to the Great Falls Tribune. That’s despite the National Rifle Association’s strong opposition to Sotomayor, and its previous “A” rating of Baucus.

Here’s how the senator put it in a statement:

“I have long said that to be a Supreme Court justice, a person must meet three main criteria: personal integrity, professional competence, and a view of important issues that is within the mainstream of contemporary judicial thought. After personally meeting Judge Sotomayor, thoroughly analyzing her judicial record, and reviewing her nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Sotomayor unquestionably meets each of these criteria,” he said. “Thus, I am proud to support her nomination and will vote to confirm her as a justice to the United States Supreme Court.”