The nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayer to the Supreme Court became an immediate political issue and seems destined to become a fundraising tool.On Wednesday, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (N.J.) came close to using President Barack Obama’s nomination of Sotomayor to raise money for the DSCC, but he stopped just short of making a direct solicitation. He sent out a letter assuring supporters that the campaign committee was “working hard every day— to elect Senators who would give Obama’s nominees a fair hearing.The e-mail doesn’t have a direct appeal for contributions, but it does provide a link to the DSCC Web site, where supporters can donate right from the home page.“Despite all of her qualifications, Republicans stand ready to obstruct,— Menendez wrote. “Tuesday, de facto party spokesman Rush Limbaugh went so far as to accuse President Obama, and Judge Sotomayor, of racism. … With statements like that from Limbaugh, we can expect to have a fight on our hands.—Brian Walsh, a National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman, said the e-mail sounded like an appeal for funds.“Fundraising rhetoric like this aside, it’s ironic that many of the same Democrats who are talking about having a judiciary that looks more like America were among those who attacked and helped defeat a past Hispanic judicial nominee in Miguel Estrada,— Walsh said.