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Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who is widely seen as a moderate, has announced his opposition to the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, the Miami Herald reports.

"I have strong concerns that Judge Sotomayor would not strictly and objectively construe the Constitution and lacks respect for the fundamental right to keep and bear arms," Crist said.

Crist plans to run for the Florida Senate seat in 2010, and his position is the opposite of the man he seeks to replace. Republican Sen. Mel Martinez has already announced his intention to vote for Sotomayor's confirmation. (Martinez has decided not to seek a second term, clearing the way for Crist's run.)

The president of the Southern Florida Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, Luis de Rosa, told the Herald that he is "very, very disappointed" in Crist's position. He warned it could cost the governor Hispanic votes.

But the decision by Crist, who is facing off against Marco Rubio for the Republican nomination, carries conservative Republican appeal, CBS4's Tim Kephart said.

According to the National Journal, Rubio has said that he wouldn't support Sotomayor's confirmation and criticized Crist for not taking a position.

Crist previously told the Miami Herald that he was too busy governing Florida to take a stance.

The Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor are expected to wrap up Thursday with a full vote early next month. There was a "Perry Mason" moment at the hearings today.

"I was a big fan of 'Perry Mason,'" said Al Franken, the junior senator from Minnesota who took office only last week.

Apparently neither one of them would do very well on a "Perry Mason" trivia quiz.

"What was the one case in 'Perry Mason' that [Hamilton] Burger [the district attorney] won?" Franken asked.

"I wish I remembered the name of the episode, but I don't," Sotomayor said. "I just was always struck that there was only one case where his client was actually guilty."

"And you don't remember that case?" Franken asked.

"I know that I should remember the name of it, but I haven't looked at the episode," Sotomayor said.

"Didn't the White House prepare you for that?" Franken asked laughing.

Senator Franken didn't know either – but CBS News looked it up – it was the "Case of the Deadly Verdict."


Watch the exchange below.


Watch CBS Videos Online

The start of Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings today marked an opportunity for Democrats to defend President Obama's nomination and Republicans to attack the nomination based on information that has been released so far.

On today's episode of Washington Unplugged, CBS News political consultant John Dickerson sat down with a group political analysts to discuss the first day of Sotomayor's Senate confirmation hearings.

While Democrats focused solely on her judicial records, Republicans have been highlighting speeches and instances from her life.

CBS Supreme Court correspondent Wyatt Andrews said that the GOP's focus on speeches shows that the Republicans "don't have the ammunition" to fight her judicial records. Additionally, he noted that a lot of Republicans have actually praised her and some are likely to vote in her favor.

Stuart Taylor, a senior writer at National Journal, notes that, while Andrews' argument echoes Democratic sentiment, Republicans are nevertheless continuing this tactic, asking "what will happen when nobody's in charge but her?"

The group also addressed Sotomayor's ability to empathize, her "wise latina" comment, and the probability of her confirmation. CBS News' Nancy Cordes also discussed the CIA controversy circulating around former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Joining Dickenson were Taylor, Andrews, CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen, CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller, Republican Lawyers Association representative Cleta Mitchell, and Legal Director of the Alliance for Justice Bill Yeomans. You can watch the full espisode above.

As Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings edge closer, many are raising their voices both for and against the Supreme Court nominee.

In a press conference Tuesday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy stated that Sotomayor would "unquestionably" maintain a balanced view on criminal cases.

"Judge Sotomayor’s criminal justice record proves that she is a moderate judge, whose decisions in criminal cases rarely differ from those of her colleagues on the Federal bench," Leahy said.

Alongside Leahy, many law enforcement groups also spoke out in favor of the judge. Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association President Jon Adler said Tuesday that he believes that the nominee will "be loyal to the rule of law" and that she has "the requisite intellect, experience and character" necessary to fulfill her duty.

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The Senate Judiciary Committee confirmed Tuesday that Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearing will begin July 13, and Republicans are none too happy about it.

The top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, Alabama senator Jeff Sessions, said today that the date is too early and does not give Republicans enough time to examine Sotomayor's record.

"I'm really a bit surprised," Sessions said, according to Politico. "I don't think our side has the time to do this right. ... That's a rushed time frame, and I don't think that's necessary."

As the Associated Press reports, GOP Leader Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of threatening Senate cooperation over the nominee by setting an impractical timetable.

"An arbitrary date on this nomination, when we're not clear yet how long it's going to take to work our way through her extensive record ... strikes me as not a good way to proceed," said McConnell.

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The latest Obama Administration nominee with a tax problem, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, faced the Senate Finance Committee today. Confirmation to head Health and Human Services looks likely despite over $7000 in back taxes Sebelius paid after her nomination. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle seemed more concerned with the governor's views on tackling healthcare reform.

The HHS secretary will be responsible for the sweeping healthcare overhaul President Obama and Congressional leaders want done this year. There are currently 47 million uninsured in the United States.

Finance Chairman Max Baucus asked Sebelius if she agreed that every American should be covered. "I absolutely agree," said Sebelius, though she did not directly answer whether owning health insurance should be legally mandatory.

Sebelius told committee members that she'd push to allow drug importation from foreign countries with the equivalent or higher medical standards to the U.S. She also said she supports allowing the government to negotiate drug prices for the Medicare Part D program. That's a hot-button issue, since opponents argue it is unfair for private companies to compete with the Federal Government.

The governor did ease some Republican concerns when she assured Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) that the administration would try to avoid a procedural move called "reconciliation" allowing Democrats to easily pass healthcare reform in the Senate without Republican votes.

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Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) was confirmed by the Senate as the 25th Secretary of Labor on Tuesday. The White House says Solis will be sworn in today, CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller reports.

Republican questions about Solis’ connections to union groups and her husband’s business’ tax liens slowed the confirmation. The Senate vote was 80-17.

The daughter of union workers, Solis promises a pro-worker stance.

President Obama hopes to able to fill the troubled Commerce Secretary post tomorrow. after The Associated Press reports that the president is looking to have Washington Governor Gary Locke confirmed tomorrow.

The Senate has overwhelmingly confirmed Hillary Clinton to become secretary of state.

The chamber voted 94 to two to confirm Clinton, a fierce rival of President Obama for the Democratic nomination. Though some Republicans had expressed concerns about conflicts of interest related to Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, they were not enough to derail her nomination.

Clinton will now be immediately sworn in at a private ceremony. She faces daunting foreign policy challenges, including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the conflict in the Middle East.

Republican Sens. David Vitter of Louisiana and Jim DeMint of South Carolina opposed Clinton.

New York Governor David Patterson has yet to appoint a replacement for Clinton in the Senate. He is expected to announce his choice by Saturday.

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The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding up the confirmation of Eric Holder as attorney general for a week at the request of comittee Republicans.

The committee was originally scheduled to vote on Holder's nomination today, but Republicans asked that it be held while they learn more about Holder's views on interrogation techniques and possible prosecutions of U.S. personnel.

It appears that Hillary Clinton will not be confirmed as secretary of state today.

The Associated Press is reporting (UPDATE: And CBS News confirms) that Republican John Cornyn of Texas is planning to block a unanimous floor vote to confirm the former first lady later today. Their source is a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The spokesman, Jim Manley, predicted that there would be a roll call vote Wednesday, and that "she will receive overwhelming bipartisan support" when it takes place.

The Senate still plans to confirm other Obama Cabinet picks later today.