Obama Interviews Diane Wood; Search for Supreme Court Nominee Narrows

President Obama planned to meet with two senior Senate Republicans on Wednesday amid signs that his search for a new Supreme Court justice to succeed John Paul Stevens is narrowing.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden sat down separately at the White House Tuesday with federal appeals court judge Diane Wood of Chicago -- the fourth candidate to be interviewed. Obama talked with Montana appeals judge Sidney Thomas last week and met earlier with Solicitor General Elena Kagan and Washington appeals judge Merrick Garland -- all on the short list for the nomination.

The tip-off that the process is moving quickly came with word that the president would meet Wednesday with Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) -- senior members of the Judiciary Committee, which will consider the confirmation of the eventual nominee. Obama began conferring with Senate Republicans on the day Steven's retirement was announced early last month. He hopes to select a nominee by the end of May, but the decision could come sooner.