Hatch says Obama promised not to nominate radical

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has told a leading Senate Republican he would not nominate a radical or extremist to the Supreme Court.

Sen. Orrin Hatch said Monday that the president called him to discuss the nomination but did not provide names of anyone under consideration. Hatch is a longtime member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is influential among Republican senators on judicial nominees.

The Utah Republican said there could be a major Senate fight if Obama "nominates someone contrary to what he told me." But Hatch said he takes the president at his word.

The senator said he expects the nominee will favor abortion rights. He said the president should get back to him with a list of possible nominees to head off problems.