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John Daley ReportingMost Utahns think Miers did the right thing to pull out her Supreme Court nomination, that's according to a new KSL-TV Survey USA poll.
The poll finds 53% of Utahns think Miers has done the right thing by withdrawing, 26% think it was the wrong thing, 21% aren't sure.
With his poll numbers low and anger on the right wing of his own party high, President Bush says he reluctantly accepted Harriet Miers' withdrawal; she says she feared her nomination would become a burden.
U of U political science professor Erik Luna says conservative Republicans wanted a nominee they were sure of.
Erik Luna, University of Utah Law Professor: "They looked at this as a betrayal of the faith and the votes they put behind President Bush."
Erik Luna, University of Utah Law Professor: "They were expecting a nominee who was a no-brainer."
In Congress many viewed the Miers pick as a mistake and are now looking ahead to the next battle.
Sen. Trent Lott, (R) Mississippi: "I had made it clear that I was not comfortable with this nominee."
Sen. Harry Reid, (D) Nevada: "The radical right wing of the Rep party drove this woman's nomination right out of town."
One question ahead is whether or not the President will once again pick another woman. Half of the Utahns we polled think the next nominee will be a woman; 36% think it will not.
We also asked if the President has two identically qualified candidates to choose from, a man or a woman, which should he pick? 18% say a man while 58% say a woman, though some legal experts say this time the President could decide to simply pick the best candidate, regardless of gender.
Erik Luna, University of Utah Law Professor: "All bets are off and I'm going to go for the candidate who is absolutely the strongest in terms of credentials."
Whoever the President picks, he can expect another tough fight. No word on when President Bush will make his pick, but the Supreme Court is already in session for this term with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor still on the court until her replacement is confirmed.
