WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan is meeting with top senators in both parties today as she begins courting the votes she'll need to be confirmed.

Kagan is visiting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to kick off her first day of Capitol Hill "courtesy calls."

Reid said as they went into their meeting that he looks forward to making the confirmation process "as smooth as possible."

Kagan next will call on Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, as well as Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy.

She'll also sit down with the panel's top Republican, Jeff Sessions, and three other top committee members.

Kagan is facing questions from Republicans about whether she would be able to refrain from being a rubber stamp on Obama's policies as a justice.