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He also made it clear that the President was looking for a certain kind of candidate, namely a woman to replace Justice O’Connor. And you can imagine what that did to the short list. That cut it
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Probably best to remind folks here that Roberts was nominated BEFORE Rehnquist died. HE, YES, HE, was O'Connor's replacement. He became Rehnquist's replacement only after his nomination for O'Connor's vacancy.
O'Connor's seat was not to be a "woman's seat". If that had been the plan, Roberts would not have been nominated.
Excellent point. But I also remember everyone last July was expecting Rehnquist to step aside, or die. It may have been that Roberts was supposed to get Rehnquist's seat, and Rehnquist didn't die or get out of the way soon enough.