Judy Keen of USA Today interviewed President Bush Monday about his choice of a Supreme Court replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The text of the interview is here.

He defended his "great friend" Alberto Gonzales. It will take him a few weeks to make a decision. He wants people to "tone down the rhetoric." Twice he said he is looking for someone who will "faithfully interpret the Constitution and laws of the country." He says his judges will not have to pass a "litmus test" on Roe v. Wade or other issues. Bush's role models for a Supreme Court Justice are Scalia and Thomas.

Bush said lobbying won't affect him: "I feel no pressure except the pressure to put somebody on the bench who will bring dignity to the office, somebody who's got the intellect necessary to do the job, somebody of great integrity and somebody who will faithfully interpret the Constitution."

That won't stop the special interest groups, who are expected to spend between $50 and $100 million on campaigns. The Christian Science Monitor today analyzes the political factors at work in Bush's decision.