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June 25, 2002 2:00 p.m. The Daschle-McCain Blockade John McCain joins the Democratic war on Bush nominees.

esterday National Review Online reported continuing Republican frustration with Majority Leader Tom Daschle's decision to shut down the confirmation process in the Senate. In the last six weeks, no Bush-administration nominee has been confirmed in the full Senate, leading to major backlogs in filling administration posts. In the justice field alone, there are a total of 31 nominees, including 15 candidates for the federal judiciary, 13 United States marshals, two U.S. attorneys, and one Justice Department official, waiting for confirmation votes. There are no problems with their nominations; all have been approved by Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy's Judiciary Committee. It's just that Daschle will not allow the full Senate to vote on them.

But it's not just Daschle. Now, the Majority Leader has an ally in stopping Bush nominations: Republican Sen. John McCain. Late Monday, the Arizona senator and former presidential candidate sent a letter to Daschle and Minority Leader Trent Lott demanding a hold on all nominations until the appointment of a woman named Ellen Weintraub, who is the Democratic choice for a spot on the Federal Election Commission. McCain has been angered by FEC actions which he believes will dilute some of the provisions of the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance-reform bill. While several Republicans, including Sen. Mitch McConnell, oppose Weintraub, Democrats, along with McCain, believe that Weintraub, who is married to a key aide to campaign-finance cosponsor Sen. Russell Feingold, will support stricter enforcement of the new law.

"In light of recent actions by the Federal Election Commission to undermine the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, it is critical that Ellen Weintraub, who has been recommended for a seat on the commission, be appointed as soon as possible," McCain wrote. "Consequently, I object to the Senate's consideration of any nominee, and to any agreement in relation to the consideration of any nominee, until either Ms. Weintraub's nomination and Senate confirmation prior to August recess is made a part of a broader agreement on nominees, or I receive a commitment that Ms. Weintraub will be nominated and then appointed during the August recess."

Daschle has also cited Weintraub as one of the reasons he has refused to allow any confirmation votes since May 13. Daschle and Lott have been negotiating the issue for several days without reaching agreement. Now, McCain's action could further complicate things. "It means we won't be able to pass any nomination," says one Republican aide. To get around McCain's blockade, the aide says, the GOP will have to muster 60 votes to force consideration of each nomination, which will make it extraordinarily difficult to get anything done.

It is not clear whether McCain is working in coordination with Daschle on the effort to stop Bush nominees. But the effect of McCain's action is to reinforce the blockade that Daschle has held in place for six weeks. Whatever McCain's motivation, his actions have angered Republicans on Capitol Hill. "He's still fighting the South Carolina primary," says one Republican, referring to McCain's unsuccessful 2000 presidential campaign. "He can't stand the fact that the limelight has passed him by."