Sen. Graham On Sotomayor: "I Honestly Think I Could Vote For Her"

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was one of Judge Sonia Sotomayor's top critics in the Senate following her nomination to the Supreme Court.  He called on her to apologize for her "wise Latina" comments, said she has a "character problem" and a "temperament problem," and declared that -- "being an average, every-day white guy" -- he was "deeply troubled" by her nomination.  He even suggested that Republicans should oppose Sotomayor to get revenge on President Obama, even though it's "not doing the country any good looking back playing a game of tit for tat."

However, with Sotomayor's confirmation hearings set to begin next week, it seems Graham is changing his tune.  While others, like Sens. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY), ramp up their anti-Sotomayor rhetoric, Graham now says he "could vote for her":

The nation's lawyers and law enforcement leaders gave Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor ringing endorsements Tuesday, even as Republicans tried to rally opposition.

With Sotomayor's Senate confirmation hearing less than a week away, the American Bar Association announced that the 54-year-old appellate judge is ''well qualified'' to serve on the nation's highest court. The unanimous recommendation is the association's highest grade for a potential judge.

"The only way she can get derailed is if she performs poorly next week,'' acknowledged Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Senate Judiciary Committee member. He said he was still undecided, but added, "I honestly think I could vote for her."