Jan. 28 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush called on Congress to hold a confirmation vote on U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel A. Alito Jr., and lashed out at Democrats for their handling of the judge's nomination.

``The Senate has a constitutional responsibility to hold an up-or-down vote on Judge Alito's nomination,'' Republican Bush said in his weekly radio address.

U.S. Senate Republican leaders say they have enough support to end a debate on Alito and confirm him next week. Some Democrats, led by Massachusetts Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry, are staging a last-ditch filibuster, a parliamentary tactic that allows unlimited debate, to try to derail his confirmation.

Republicans control the Senate, 55-45. Three Democrats have announced support for Alito and a fourth suggested he was leaning in that direction. In all, eight Democrats have said they will vote to end debate, ensuring the 60 votes necessary to proceed to a final roll call on Alito's confirmation.

Kennedy has said that pressing the filibuster provides an opportunity to focus public attention on the nomination and try to persuade lawmakers to change their minds.

Democratic Supporters

Bush, in his radio address, cited comments from Democrats who have endorsed Alito, including Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, and who have criticized their own party for the partisan way the judge's nomination was handled. West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd called Alito's treatment by some fellow Democrats ``an outrage and a disgrace,'' Bush said.

The three Democratic Senators who have endorsed Alito's confirmation -- Byrd, Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Ben Nelson of Nebraska -- represent Republican-leaning ``red states'' Bush carried in the 2004 election. Johnson won re-election in 2002 by 524 votes, while Byrd and Nelson face re-election this year.

North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad, another Democrat seeking re-election this year from a state Bush won, signaled yesterday he was likely to vote for Alito, telling reporters, ``I feel more favorably disposed toward him.''

Bush also cited support from Alito's former law clerks, including one self-described ``left-leaning Democrat'' and another who worked on Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign, which the senator lost to Bush.

The radio address marks the third time this week Bush has pushed for Alito's nomination and warned against a filibuster, even though the judge's confirmation was all but assured at the beginning of the week.

``Judge Alito has demonstrated that he is eminently qualified to serve on our nation's highest court,'' Bush said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Holly Rosenkrantz in Washington at hrosenkrantz@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: January 28, 2006 13:31 EST