Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., this morning officially requested the postponement of the Judiciary Committee vote on Elena Kagan's Supreme Court nomination. By committee rules, any member can delay a nomination vote by a week, which will set up a committee vote for next Tuesday. Sessions said the nomination was "moving in a very expeditious manner" and said that considering the magnitude of the nomination it was fair game to delay it.

Chairman Pat Leahy, D-Vt., had hoped to vote today and push the nomination through the full Senate before the it leaves Aug. 6 for summer recess -- a.k.a. When It Is Way Too Humid To Be Here -- but with several other issues on the agenda, including a long-sought extension of unemployment benefits and a campaign finance bill that would limit the effects of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, that deadline is in doubt. Leahy was cordial to his Republican counterpart on his delay request, but noted, "I think everybody’s made up their mind."

Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., told me Monday he had "pretty much" made up his mind and will announce his vote in a floor speech this week.