Feinstein backs Bernanke for second term

(AP) — Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a influential voice among Senate Democrats, says she's backing the nomination of Ben Bernanke to another four-year term as chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Feinstein says it would be a mistake not to reconfirm Bernanke and that blaming one man for the implosion of the financial sector would simply be wrong.

Bernanke's confirmation, which had seemed assured, was suddenly thrown into doubt last week as resistance grew among some Senate Democrats and as others said they were undecided. But Feinstein said that Bernanke would bring stability to the economy and that she supports him fully.