Reid and Frist may or may not be in the loop

According to the MSM stories I heard/read today, Senate Leaders Bill Frist and Harry Reid were notified about the nomination of Samuel Alito around 700 Eastern.

RedState.org and the Washington Prowler both knew the nominee, or had a real good idea, last night.

RedState's account:

The Washington Prowler is hearing what I'm hearing. It's more likely than not going to be Alito. Luttig is a possibility, but there is some concern that Luttig could "grow" in office.

Some of you will scream about that, but let me say that I have heard that about Luttig since before O'Connor resigned and have heard that from some of Luttig's friends. It may not be accurate, but that is a concern and has been since before the summer.

Prowler's:

According to sources in both the White House and Senate leadership, the President is poised to nominate Federal Appeals Court Judge Samuel Alito on Monday morning.

No official phone calls have been made to those Republicans who need to be in the know: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Deputy Leader Mitch McConnell and Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, but ongoing conversations among senior staff at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue lead our sources to believe Alito is it.