Are you sure that they had solid track records?
Regardless, a track record will allow a more informed decision to be made. There is always a chance that we might "get lucky" and just go with someone with no track record at all, but it's a huge risk for such a vital position.
I think the most important thing she has going for her is that she vetted Dubya's nominees. He got to observe her during that vetting procedure, got to listen to her reasoning. He has been listening to her reasoning for years, but this was the first practical application of it as it applied to the courts.
During the discussions on the various nominees, her judicial philosophy would become very clear.
Remember, he chose Cheney because he observed his way of working during the vetting procedure for VP.