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Published February 26, 2010, 11:35 AM

Potter: I won't back filibusters in U.S. Senate

The North Dakota Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate says he won't support almost any Senate filibuster if he's elected. Tracy Potter says he'd support a filibuster only for appointments to federal judgeships and the U.S. Supreme Court. He says in all other cases, he'll vote to break any filibuster.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate says he won't support almost any Senate filibuster if he's elected.

Tracy Potter says he'd support a filibuster only for appointments to federal judgeships and the U.S. Supreme Court. He says in all other cases, he'll vote to break any filibuster.

Senate filibusters are used to force a bill's advocates to get at least 60 votes to win its approval. It's been used to stall health care legislation in the Senate.

Potter says the filibuster has meant ``minority rule' in the Senate.

Potter is running to succeed incumbent Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan. North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven and Fargo architect Paul Sorum are competing for the Republican endorsement to run for the job.

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