He is recognized as one of the country’s top legal minds, but the Democrats are vowing to block Ted Olson’s confirmation if the President nominates him as attorney General.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed on Wednesday to block former Solicitor General Theodore Olson from becoming attorney general if President George W. Bush nominates him to replace Alberto Gonzales.

Congressional and administration officials have described Olson as a leading contender for the job as the nation's chief U.S. law enforcement officer, but Reid declared: "Ted Olson will not be confirmed" by the Senate.

"He's a partisan, and the last thing we need as an attorney general is a partisan," Reid told Reuters in a brief hallway interview on Capitol Hill.

Olson did an outstanding job as solicitor general. His grace and strength following his wife’s murder on 9/11 was an inspiration to the nation. For Harry Reid to seek to thwart Olson’s nomination is a move of gross partisanship that the American people should reject.