Associated Press Writer

By MARY CLARE JBy MARY CLARE JALONICK

WASHINGTON - The conservative group Coalition for a Fair Judiciary said it has bought more than $100,000 in television ads for North Dakota and South Dakota, hoping to pressure Senate Democrats on the Supreme Court nomination of Samuel Alito.

The ads are targeting Democratic Sens. Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Kent Conrad of North Dakota, according to the group. Both senators are undecided on Alito's nomination, which is expected to come before the Senate next week.

"Call Sen. Conrad and tell him to vote yes on Judge Alito and stand with mainstream America," one of the ads says.

The group is only targeting the Dakotas in their ad buy, which will begin this weekend.

"We believe that these two senators in particular are really folks who are from middle America, from states where average Americans believe in a fair and decent process," said Kay Daly, president of the group.

Both Conrad and Johnson supported Chief Justice John Roberts in a Senate confirmation vote last year and have said outside ads will not influence their decisions. Conrad has a meeting scheduled with Alito on Tuesday and is expected to decide after that.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., also is undecided on the Alito vote, but he is not being targeted in the ads, Daly said.

Daly said the group took into account voting records and upcoming elections in deciding whom to target. Conrad is up for re-election this year.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Alito's nomination to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on Tuesday, with the full Senate starting final debate the next day. Most if not all of the Senate's 55 Republicans are expected to support him. That would give him enough votes for confirmation if the 44 Democrats and independent Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont do not attempt a filibuster.

Several Democrats say they do not expect a filibuster, but many have said they will vote against the conservative judge.

Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska is the only Democrat who has announced that he will vote for Alito's confirmation next week. He also voted for Roberts' confirmation.