Senate Democrats key to Iran nuclear deal passage …
The administration is moving quickly to sell the historic nuclear deal to Democrats who are worried that the accord could leave Israel vulnerable without winning enough concessions from Iran.
A series of public and private, classified briefings begins on Wednesday when Vice President Joe Biden, at the request of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, will discuss the agreement with House Democrats. Ben Rhodes, the president's National Security Advisor, is slated to huddle with Jewish Democrats on Capitol Hill Thursday morning.
The lobbying campaign are part of a strategy to shore up Democratic support in Congress for a key part of Obama's foreign policy agenda. It's a risky play that could run into the same type of trouble that bedeviled the president last month when he muscled trade proposals through the House and Senate despite significant Democrat opposition.
At issue is an internationally negotiated deal to rein in Iran's nuclear program, which Congress will have 60 days to review, examine in hearings and ultimately decide whether to pass. The administration has five days to certify the agreement and formally present the deal to Capitol Hill, which officially starts the clock.
Now that he has a deal with Iran, Obama must face Congress
The Republican controlled House likely has the votes to pass a resolution of disapproval, which would block the deal. But in the Senate, Republicans would need to attract support from several Democrats to get that measure through the chamber.
There are a group of about 15 Senate Democrats considered in-play to possibly vote against the President on the Iran deal. If they all joined with the GOP, it's possible that the Senate could override a veto. However, that would be a huge mark against the President and the deal itself even if the House couldn't override the veto and the deal went through.
Democrats who count votes have said they expect it to be razor close when an override vote happens in mid-September and there will be enormous pressure on key Democrats like New York Sen. Charles Schumer, who is one of the 15 Democrats whose expected vote is unclear.
In a statement Thursday, Schumer, who is close to American Israel Public Affairs, and who has many pro-Israeli Jewish constituents, promised to study the agreement with a "fine tooth comb."
"I supported legislation ensuring that Congress would have time and space to review the deal, and now we must use it well. Supporting or opposing this agreement is not a decision to be made lightly, and I plan to carefully study the agreement before making an informed decision," he said.
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Senate Democrats key to Iran nuclear deal passage ...