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Napolitano Coy on Supreme Court Spot

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Sunday deflected but did not deny inquiries about the possibility that President Barack Obama could nominate her to the Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.

Asked by host Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” whether Obama may nominate her, Napolitano said “I have not talked to the president in the recent weeks about that.” When Wallace approached the issue again, Napolitano replied “I am flattered” by the inquiries but “I am focused on a few other issues” – a reference to the Gulf Coast oil spill and the car bomb found in Times Square that dominated the news Sunday.

Appearing later on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar was asked whether Napolitano would make a good Supreme Court pick, and he replied simply, “yes.”

Obama is expected to nominate a new Supreme Court Justice in the next few weeks to replace Stevens, who announced in April that he is stepping down after 35 years on the court.

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