Steve Schmidt, counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney, is getting high grades as the low-profile sherpa guiding Judge Samuel Alito toward confirmation as a Supreme Court justice.
Schmidt replaced former Republican National Chairman Ed Gillespie. After serving as sherpa for Chief Justice John Roberts and later for the aborted nomination of Harriet Miers, Gillespie wanted to return to his Washington lobbying firm. Former Sen. Dan Coats was brought in to help Miers and has stayed for Alito, while Gillespie is providing part-time assistance for Alito. Former Sen. Fred Thompson, who helped out with Roberts, is out of the sherpa business because of acting commitments.
A footnote: An indicator pointing to possible success for Alito was a favorable reaction by Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson after meeting with Alito. Nelson faces re-election next year in Nebraska, which was carried two-to-one by President Bush last year.
RISING MODERATES
The Main Street Partnership, the leading moderate Republican organization tilting the balance of power in the House, is expanding its staff and looking for larger quarters in Washington.
Sallie Mae analyst Jonathan Stevens has been hired by Main Street, and he plans to take on two additional staffers to work with him. The organization is also looking at expanded office space in the Firemen's Insurance Co. building in the high-rent downtown district just off Pennsylvania Ave.
Main Street, headed by Rep. Michael Castle of Delaware, has recently blocked passage of oil drilling in ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) and extension of investment tax cuts.