Look for FL's Two U.S. Senators to Split on Kagan Nomination

With Washington abuzz that President Barack Obama will name Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court today, a quick glance into the recent past could reveal how the vote will go -- and how Floridas two U.S. senators will vote.

Sen. Bill Nelson supported Kagan when Obama nominated her to serve as solicitor general; then-Sen. Mel Martinez opposed her. Kagan was confirmed by the Senate to serve as solicitor general on a 61-31 vote. While Kagan won some moderates (Snowe, Collins, Lugar) and even some conservatives (Hatch, Kyl, Coburn), most of the Republicans voted against her.

The only Democrat to vote against Kagan was Arlen Specter, who had just left the GOP after decades of service in the Senate. Unless something drastic emerges (even more damaging statements about military recruiters at Harvard during Kagans tenure there? Her senior thesis on American socialism at Princeton under Sean Wilentz?), look for Floridas senators to be divided once again on Kagan -- the Democrat backing her and the Republican opposing her.