Bush Zeros In on Next AG

President Bush is down to five candidates to replace Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. Of his current choices, Michael Mukasey, a former chief judge for the US Southern District of New York, has the most bi-partisan appeal, while Ted Olson, winning lawyer in the Supreme Court Bush v. Gore election case, would rankle Democrats.

The other three under consideration are Laurence Silberman, former circuit judge on the US Court of Appeals, George Terwilliger, deputy AG for Bush's father, and Pepsico Senior VP Larry Thompson, reports Playbook. The White House is looking for smooth confirmation, though Republicans would like a pick exciting enough to not only right the ship after  Gonzalez  but energize the administration. (More attorney general stories.)