South Carolina’s two Republican U.S. senators gave strong endorsements Monday to the nomination of Miers.

And state Democratic Party Chairman Joe Erwin expressed satisfaction that Bush opted for “a consensus-building candidate. From what little I know at this point, she looks OK.”

Retired Democratic Sen. Ernest F. Hollings of Charleston couldn’t be reached for comment.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of Seneca said Miers is “a solid choice” who will get his vote for confirmation, but he said it may take the GOP’s right wing a little longer to come around.

Advertisement

Graham is a member of the Judiciary Committee, the panel that will have the initial review of Miers’ nomination.

Sen. Jim DeMint of Greenville praised Miers’ legal background, but his expectations were slightly qualified.

He expressed hope “she will demonstrate that she is well qualified to serve on the Supreme Court, and that she will strictly interpret the Constitution and laws of the United States, without legislating from the bench.”

Unlike Graham, DeMint said he doesn’t know Miers personally, but “my confidence comes from the belief that (Bush) knows her better than any other nominee. It’s going to have to come down to, do we trust Bush on this one.”

A freshman and nonlawyer, DeMint isn’t a member of the Judiciary Committee.

The nomination was announced just before Chief Justice John Roberts, confirmed last week, presided over his first session of the Supreme Court.

“While Roberts has tremendous legal intellect and brought that to the table, I think Harriett brings to the table life experiences as a lawyer that will probably serve the court well,” Graham said.

Graham suggested the GOP’s right wing might initially greet Miers with caution.

With a scant paper trail with which to assess her ideological leanings, Graham said, “In that regard, she is unknown. There are a lot of conservatives saying, ‘Who is Harriett Miers?’

“What they’ll find,” he said, is “a hard-working, dedicated person who has lived her life well, is a good supporter of the president, who will be a strict constructionist.”

Graham added, “The more conservatives get to know about her, the better they’ll feel. The country will understand the president has picked a solid person, who’s not going to become an ideologue either way.”

DeMint said Miers would “bring a wealth of personal experience to the Supreme Court. I expect she will show that she has the intelligence, fairness, and open-mindedness needed to serve on the court.”

Katon Dawson, chairman of the state Republican Party, said Bush had made good on his promise to nominate “another well-qualified individual” for the Supreme Court.