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We're hearing the next big story to drop will do to Miers' reputation for competency what today's Post piece does in raising questions about her stand on important issues.

There has been much talk across the blogosphere today about the Washington Times report that the White House has begun laying out contingency plans should the Miers nomination be pulled back. We're getting major pushback on that report from our sources inside the White House.

"Miers was in meetings late Friday and made it clear that she's ready to move ahead," says a White House source. "She knew the Washington Post story was coming and is prepared to discuss it with Senators should the one-on-one meetings begin again."

Another White House source says that if there is chatter about withdrawing the nomination, it's chatter among mid-level staffers who are just feeling the pressure from outside forces like the media and their conservative friends.

What does appear to be more palpable is a sense that conservative Republican Senators are beginning to wonder what it will take to persuade the President to accept a Miers request that her nomination be withdrawn. "It would have to be a senior enough delegation from the Senate to make it clear this nomination isn't going to work out," says a Senate source. "Not necessarily [Majority Leader Bill] Frist, but serious enough that the President understands what is happening up here on the Hill."

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