I may be wrong, but I cannot believe people like Reid, Biden, and a few others see a filibuster in the Dim's best interest. Too obtructionist. My guess is a few of the Dims from safe seats, or who need to project a moderate image, will cross over and vote for cloture. Just enough to invoke it, is all. Then when the confirmation vote comes up they will vote against Alito, but he will be confirmed.
Biden went off the plantation yesterday. Or maybe Carter did. In any event the two rats completely contradicted each other regarding US aid to the Palestinians - - Carter said to send more, and Biden said it should be completely cut off. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.