Survey USA has a brand new poll out on the Alito nomination.

On the day confirmation hearings begin for Samuel Alito to Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Alito has twice as many backers as detractors, according to a poll of 1,200 adults nationwide conducted by SurveyUSA for its media clients around the country. 30% of USA adults go into the hearings certain that Alito is qualified to serve on the High Court. 14% of adults go into the hearings certain that Alito is not qualified to serve on the High Court. 36% of Americans, the largest group, are waiting to hear from Alito this week before making up their minds.

50% of Americans predict Alito will be confirmed on a full vote of the U.S. Senate (compare with 33% to 47% who said the same about Harriett Miers in 26 consecutive days of SurveyUSA tracking polling. Miers tracking data here). 15% of Americans today say Alito will make it to a full vote before the Senate, but will then be rejected by the full Senate (compare with 20% to 28% who said the same about Miers). 9% today say Alito will not make it to a full vote before the Senate (compare with 12% to 19% who said the same about Miers).

Further in the poll, only 11% report to have heard about the "Concerned Alumni of Princeton." In light of the Drudge Report's exclusive this weekend alluding to a planned Democratic attack that will focus on Alito's membership in this group it will be interesting to see how much that number changes in the next two weeks.