Eleanor Clift says he’s a hot topic in the White House:

A source close to the White House says there is a “pretty vigorous internal debate” over whom to nominate, and Gonzales has strong supporters, notably Karl Rove and Bush. Knowing Gonzales would be a lightning rod for a really harsh debate, Rove’s attitude is “so be it.” He’s tired of his boss getting kicked around in the media, and doesn’t shy away from a good fight. But Bush is spoiled by the Roberts nomination and doesn’t relish taking on both the right of his party and the left at a time when he’s at such a low point politically. “Find me another Roberts,” he has instructed aides, who are combing the country for a conservative woman jurist who can pass muster with the right and not overly antagonize Senate Democrats. “It will be a new name,” this source promises—although Priscilla Owen, named to the Fifth Circuit this spring as part of the bipartisan compromise, is still in the running.