Leahy appeared at a news conference with religious leaders who deplored the injection of religion into the debate. "Even to hint that a Judiciary Committee member's opposition to a judicial nomination is based on the nominee's religion is a cause for alarm," GOP Presses for Votes on Judges (washingtonpost.com): "While the Senate's feuding over judges does not appear to have resonated widely with voters, both parties intend to use it to mobilize their core constituencies, especially on issues such as abortion."