Schumer told NBC's "Meet the Press" that "questioning Judge Alito is going to be really, really important." He said he hadn't made up his mind about how to vote and "whether to urge my colleagues in the caucus to filibuster. But he's got to answer a lot of questions."
And Kennedy, on ABC's "This Week," said that although there was "no plan" to block the nomination "at the present time, we're not eliminating any procedural actions by the Senate members or by the Democratic leadership."
Democrats say they are less worried than they were last year that Republicans would retaliate against a filibuster by pursuing the so-called nuclear option, in which the GOP would seek to change Senate rules to prohibit blocking votes on judicial nominees.
The reason for the lessened Democratic concern, said another party congressional aide, is that Republicans "are in bad, bad shape" because of the problems that have buffeted the GOP in recent months.
The aide, who requested anonymity when discussing the filibuster issue, said that even "when things were going OK" for the GOP last year, Republicans backed off from pushing for the nuclear option.
Republicans respond that a filibuster of Alito's confirmation would be a political mistake by Democrats, predicting that many voters would disapprove. They also say the party would have the votes it needed to retaliate against a filibuster with what GOP leaders prefer to call the "constitutional option."
"We're ready to do what needs to be done, if necessary, to ensure that he gets a fair up-or-down vote," said Eric Ueland, chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.).
During the Judiciary Committee's hearings, Democratic senators will try to link the domestic spying issue with the controversy over abortion by focusing on the concept of privacy.
"The question is, when Judge Alito goes before the cameras, will he be able to make his case or will people be turned off by some of his very conservative views?" said Manley, the aide to Reid. "The issue is larger than Roe vs. Wade -- it's the issue of privacy, whether it's NSA spying or reproductive rights."
When addressing privacy rights and other subjects, Roberts gave lengthy answers in a soothing manner. But Democrats complained that ultimately he said little of substance.
Given his much longer record on the bench, they are hoping Alito will be unable to use the same tactic.
