AL

The Argus Leader is doing what it does best: leaving out information if it hurts the Democrats.  Here's the story:

Sen. Tim Johnson was one of the first two U.S. senators to meet with Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito on Tuesday, and he took the opportunity to question his philosophy on issues relevant to South Dakota.
...
Johnson said he told Alito he won't come to a conclusion on how he will vote until after the judicial committee hearings. But he also said his reputation as a moderate Democrat and one of 22 who voted for John Roberts to be named Chief Justice might have been the reason Alito met with Johnson right after he had his first meeting with Sen. Mike Dewine, R-Ohio.

Johnson said he is not dismayed Alito is fundamentally conservative.

"The only thing debatable is whether his views are within the broad mainstream of contemporary thinking," the senator said.

The Argus, however, fails to mention that Johnson has contemplated using the filibuster.

And note this from the LA Times:  "Johnson, who rarely attracts national attention, seemed to relish being the first Democrat outside the party's leadership with whom Alito met."