On Capitol Hill, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to recommend the confirmation of Samuel Alito as a Supreme Court justice. As expected, the vote was split along party lines, with 10 Republicans in favor and 8 Democrats opposed. The Democratic opposition included three Senators who voted for John Roberts in September. On Tuesday, another five Republicans announced they would support Alito in the overall Senate, giving him over 50 votes in the 100-member chamber. The final Senate debate on Alito’s nomination begins today.