Last week, both Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich emerged as top critics of Judge Sonia Sotomayor -- calling her a racist because of her 2001 "wise Latina" speech. Other Republicans, particularly those in elected office, urged restraint. And today it appears that message has been received.

On his radio show today, Limbaugh focused on Sotomayor's Catholic faith and the fact that she "doesn't have a clear record on abortion.

"Overturning Roe vs. Wade -- it would be huge," he said. "I could see a possibility of supporting this nomination if I could be convinced that she does have a sensibility toward life, in a legal sense. In a real sense."

The administration has expressed no concern about her position, however, even as some pro-choice groups did.

Meanwhile, Gingrich wrote today at Human Events expressing some regret over the harshness of his statements last week.

"My initial reaction was strong and direct -- perhaps too strong and too direct. The sentiment struck me as racist and I said so. Since then, some who want to have an open and honest consideration of Judge Sotomayor's fitness to serve on the nation's highest court have been critical of my word choice.

"With these critics who want to have an honest conversation, I agree. The word 'racist' should not have been applied to Judge Sotomayor as a person, even if her words themselves are unacceptable (a fact which both President Obama and his Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, have since admitted)."