Washington ? Aiming to demonstrate an openness to all views, President Bush sought the advice of Democratic as well as Republican senators on Tuesday about whom to pick to fill a Supreme Court vacancy. He also got a little unsolicited advice from his wife.

Bush was urged by two key lawmakers to consider nominating someone other than a current judge. Democrats floated the names of three Hispanic judges, but advocates on both the right and left said they might be too moderate for the president’s liking.

Bush even heard from Laura Bush, who said she’d like to see him replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor with a woman.

Bush gave no clues about whom he is considering.

His White House meeting was attended by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn; Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.; Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, ranking Democrat on the committee. Vice President Dick Cheney and White House Chief of Staff Andy Card also attended.

Bipartisan members of the Senate walk from the White House to speak with the media Tuesday after meeting with President Bush about Supreme Court judicial nominees. Left to right are Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Reid told Bush he wanted the president to share his candidates so senators could evaluate them.

The meeting was intended to reinforce White House contentions that Bush was consulting widely in filling the vacancy.

Officials said Reid signaled that several of the contenders supported by conservatives could trigger a confirmation battle. The Nevada Democrat did not mention names, but among those backed by conservatives are federal appellate judges J. Michael Luttig, Michael McConnell, John Roberts Jr., Samuel Alito and J. Harvie Wilkinson III.

Officials familiar with the meeting said Democrats suggested Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Ed Prado of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo Hinojosa, all Hispanics.