It doesn't matter. Even if some of the RINOs vote against Alito, they certainly won't vote to sustain a filibuster. That gives us 55 votes for cloture to start with. Nelson, Johnson, and Byrd will voter for Alito and that's 3 more for cloture bringing us to 58. Salazar and Landrieu have said that they will not support a filibuster. That's 2 more cloture votes bringing us to 60. BINGO!
It's over. We have won!
Now where's that fat lady?
When did Karl Rove start working for the other side then? This is a huge rope-a-dope. If they vote for cloture instead of going nuclear, they'll be opening the door for minority rule of judicial appointees forever. That cannot be allowed to stand. A regular fillibuster serves as a negotiating tool and therefore serves a purpose. Judicial fillibusters exist only to obstruct. Nuclear is the only option.