The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today endorsed Sonia Sotomayor, giving her nearly certain confirmation some mainstream business community credibility. "The Chamber urges members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to vote in favor of reporting Judge Sotomayor's nomination for consideration by the full Senate," the Republican-leaning lobbying group said in a letter released by the White House and Judiciary Committee Democrats. "Based on the Chamber's evaluation of her judicial record, Judge Sotomayor is well-qualified to serve as an Associate Justice of the U.S.," the letter says.

Since it began its endorsement policy in 1987, the Chamber has endorsed the nominations of Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justices Samuel Alito, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, David Souter and Clarence Thomas.