[Cboldt]

I think that he [Hagel] just didn't want to go on record so ducked the vote.

He's clearly on the record in support of Alito. News report has him and Harkin traveling yesterday. Destination and purpose unknown, and not for sure they are traveling together either.

[Republican Red]

I saw on NRO yesterday the following from a lefty website:

From vichydems.blogspot.com

SECOND, call the "URGE ABSTENTION" Senators identified immediately below and do the same -- say that you hope they vote NO on cloture this afternoon but if they can't, urge them to ABSTAIN from the cloture vote by visiting wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital at 4:30 p.m. Doing so will be just as good as a "no" vote but will give them political cover with their conservative voters back home. Again, call their DC AND District offices. And again, if their staff will commit to a position on cloture and/or abstention, please post a comment here.

By coincidence, Harkin was at Walter Reed yesterday. Nice way to use the troops for your political cover Senator Harkin. I do not know if Hagel was with him.