She called on Bush "to put partisanship aside and to honor the Constitution's mandate that he seek the 'advice and consent' of the Senate in naming a replacement."

Clinton hinted that a staunch conservative would not be acceptable to Senate Democrats, touting O'Connor for her record as a moderate.

"While history will remember her most notably for being the first woman to serve on our nation's highest court, her legacy is that of a moderate voice of reason," she contended.

Clinton urged Bush to follow the example of Ronald Reagan and pick a "consensus conservative":

"In 1981, when President Reagan was faced with a vacancy on the Supreme Court, he selected Justice O'Connor," who she called "a consensus conservative nominee who became one of the Court's most respected members."

Editor's note:
Rush Limbaugh Says the War for the Court Has Begun! Find Out Details – Click Here Now
Celebrate Ronald Reagan – Get "Reagan’s Greatest Speeches" – Click Here Now
The Stunning Truth About Hillary in Ed Klein’s New Book – Check out our FREE offer!

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Sen. Hillary Clinton