GOP Senators Assert Independence

Some Republican senators sought to assert their independence from the administration today after Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers withdrew amid heavy pressure from conservative activists.

The battle over Miers had exacerbated a rift between the White House and the conservative Republican base, placing typically loyal GOP senators in between.

Several of them applauded her exit, which President Bush attributed to a desire to protect from Senate scrutiny internal White House deliberations during Miers's time as a top administration aide including, currently, White House counsel.

"I think she made the right decision, and I appreciate it," said Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), a possible 2008 presidential candidate who had been scheduled to meet with Miers this morning.