WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 — The Senate Judiciary Committee this morning endorsed the nomination of Michael B. Mukasey to be attorney general, virtually assuring his confirmation by the full Senate.

The vote was 11 to 8, with two Democrats, Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Dianne Feinstein of California, joining all nine Republicans on the panel in backing the nominee.

The close vote in Mr. Mukasey’s favor, with 8 of 10 Democrats voting against Mr. Mukasey, had been expected, given public statements by committee members leading up to today’s meeting. Senator Herb Kohl, Democrat of Wisconsin, had been the one Democrat not to announce his decision before today, and he voted “no.”

Mr. Kohl said he was troubled by the nominee’s statements on the interrogation technique known as “waterboarding,” or simulated drowning. “As Judge Mukasey’s answers mirror the president’s on this issue, and defy common sense, we are forced to question his independence as well,” Mr. Kohl said. “The attorney general’s loyalties must be to the Constitution, to the American people, and to the law. Too much doubt on this point is disqualifying.”