I will go out on a limb and predict Snowe votes to confirm. Has she voted against many other GWB nominees? I am not sure but I doubt it. So Alito gets at least 57 votes (without Chafee,) or 58 if you include Conrad. I am still hopeful Landrieu, Bayh, and Menendez vote yes so Alito could get over 60. A narrow margin compared to the old days, but a landslide victory in the Demo-poisoned atmosphere of today.
She can go either way. It's wonderful that her vote is irrelevant. But I agree with your recollection, she's not been against either a cloture motion or a nominee, that I can recall, and she's one of my Senators.
I thnk the DEMs and GOP are "playing together" to make sure the process is dramatic.
I must be wrong....I thought Snowe announced she would vot to confirm?
I don't care how Chafee votes on final confirmation.
We only need his vote on cloture.
Menendez will vote NO.