Bush Cites Chief Justice in Vote Rally

ELKO, Nev. - Searching for new arguments to mobilize conservative voters, President Bush said Thursday that Chief Justice John Roberts would not be on the Supreme Court if Democrats controlled the Senate.

Bush told voters at rallies in the red states of Montana and Nevada that if Democrats take control of the Senate, they could affect what kind of judges sit on federal courts.

Roberts' earlier nominations to a lower federal appeals court were blocked by the Senate when it was under Democratic control, Bush said. The Senate approved Bush's nomination of Roberts to head the Supreme Court last year with 22 Democrats voting for him and 22 Democrats voting against him.

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