Tales from the Trail

There is no escaping the “Twilight” juggernaut. Not even on Capitol Hill.

The teen vampire romance saga that’s captivated a gazillion youthful fans managed to seep into Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan’s confirmation hearing Wednesday, thanks to a probing question from Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Before inquiring about Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, Briscoe v. Virginia and other cases that have come before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Minnesota Democrat raised the burning question in the great “Twilight” debate: Edward or Jacob?  Kagan declined to weigh in on the topic. The senator quickly moved on.

After three days with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Kagan appears to be on a path to confirmation by the full Senate sometime after the July 4 holiday.

When Chairman Patrick Leahy announced the nominee was close to wrapping up  that other witnesses would be called on Thursday, Kagan drew laughter by asking, “You mean I can’t come back?”

Kagan, who told senators the hearing had been one of the highlights of her life, frequently displayed a nimble wit and disarming manner that clearly impressed some Republicans.

“As it said in the paper today, you kind of ‘light up the room,’ and I agree with that,” said Republican Tom Coburn, one of the Senate Judiciary panel’s most conservative members.

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Photo Credit: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (Fans wait at the premiere of “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” during the Los Angeles Film Festival at Nokia theatre aJune 24, 2010)