Republican concerns about speeches given by Sonia Sotomayor appear unlikely to keep the nominee from winning unanimous Democratic and some GOP support.

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., said before the hearing today that he did not believe all the Republicans would vote against her, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has said he may back her.

"It's been going very well," Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said during a break this afternoon.

Leahy wants to wrap up the second round of questioning this afternoon and is encouraging committee members not to use all allotted time. But questioning still looks likely to slip into Thursday morning. After that, Sotomayor will be dismissed and witness testimony will commence.

While pressing Sotomayor, GOP senators took steps to extend courtesies.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., apologized to the nominee for anti-abortion protesters who have interrupted her testimony several times. "Anyone who values life as I do recognizes if you want to change someone's mind you don't yell at them," Coburn said.

Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and someone who represents a state with a large Hispanic population, told Sotomayor she will not face a filibuster "if I have anything to say about it."

But that promise may have limited impact. Any senator can and probably will force a cloture vote on the confirmation once it reaches the floor, but Democrats and some Republicans seem almost sure to have the votes to end debate.

Subscribers to CongressDaily can continue reading the story here.