A moderate Senate Democrat is working behind the scenes to line up enough Democrats to force a confirmation vote on a contentious appellate court nominee, while winning concessions from Republicans in return.

Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson is trying to corral at least 11 Democrats and nine Republicans for a deal that would in some ways echo the “Gang of 14” effort that averted a Senate implosion over judicial nominations in 2005. This time, though, Nelson has broadened his effort.

Nelson is trying to persuade Democrats to vote against a filibuster of the nomination of Leslie Southwick to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. But he also wants Republicans to agree, in return, that they will not stand in the way of Senate action on fiscal 2008 spending bills.

Senate leaders are moving toward a cloture vote on the Southwick nomination as early as Wednesday.

Nelson met with three other senators Tuesday morning in his Capitol Hill office —Minority Whip Trent Lott, R-Miss., and Democrats Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia and Ken Salazar of Colorado.

Lott said, “You can never have an en bloc quid pro quo, but you find ways to work together.”

Salazar said he was still undecided about whether to vote to limit debate on the nomination, which needs at least 60 supporters to proceed.

Nelson said he was talking with several other senators in a “rolling meeting” and was hopeful enough Democrats will back Southwick to avoid a filibuster.

Mark Pryor, D-Ark., a member of the original Gang of 14, said he will vote for cloture and is leaning toward voting for Southwick’s confirmation. “My sense is right now that it’s close but he probably has the votes to survive cloture” Pryor said.