He predicted the confirmation fight would be "the main event of the 100th Congress."

And at that time, he concluded, as the statements make clear, that it would be a difficult confirmation fight.

He predicted with "regret" a bitter confirmation fight over his successor.

It was Mr. Bush's second defeat in a judicial confirmation fight.

So much for healing the wounds of the bitter confirmation fight.

The Governor herself acknowledged that an outside candidate would face a tough confirmation fight.

Indeed, there are concerns that a bruising confirmation fight could at least temporarily disrupt years of cooperation within the civil rights community.

On the other hand, delay could result in a confirmation fight in the middle of next year's presidential campaign.

The Pickering nomination has turned into the first major judicial confirmation fight of the Bush administration.

Circumstances suggest that the decision was delayed lest it hurt the nominee in his confirmation fight.