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Senate Democrats said Tuesday that the GOP letter about nuclear talks with Iran undercuts the U.S. at the negotiating table and threatens to torpedo bipartisanship on Capitol Hill when it comes to the delicate issue of preventing a nuclear-armed Iran.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton also weighed in, saying Republicans were either trying to help the Iranians or hurt President Barack Obama.

As negotiators rush to reach an accord with Iran by the end of the month, partisan bickering continued on Capitol Hill, prompting Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia to ask, rhetorically: "Is the Senate capable of tackling challenging national security questions in a mature and responsible way?"

Kaine said the letter freshman Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., wrote to the leaders of Iran amounted to a partisan "sideshow."

The letter, signed by 47 of the Senate's 54 Republicans, including members of the leadership and potential presidential candidates, warned that unless Congress approved it, any nuclear deal they cut with Obama could expire the minute he leaves office.

The U.S. and five other nations are working to craft an agreement that would prevent Iran from being able to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear work is peaceful. Republicans worry that Iran is not negotiating in good faith and that a deal would be insufficient and unenforceable, allowing Iran to eventually become a nuclear-armed state.

Cotton denied undermining Obama's negotiating position. Appearing on MSNBC, he said, "We're making sure that Iran's leaders understand that if Congress doesn't approve a deal, Congress won't accept a deal." He accused Iran of seeking "a nuclear umbrella so they can continue to export terrorism around the world."

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif was quoted by the website of Iranian state TV on Tuesday as saying the letter's warning that any nuclear deal could be scrapped once Obama leaves office suggests the United States is "not trustworthy." He called the letter "unprecedented and undiplomatic." Earlier, he had dismissed it as a "propaganda ploy."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell defended the letter.

"If there is not a deal, we've had some of our Democratic friends say the choice is between this deal and war," he told reporters. "No, the choice is between this deal and greater sanctions because we've finally discovered one thing that works."

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Democrats Denounce GOP Letter on Iran Nuke Talks

Six Democrats seeking to be Philadelphia's next mayor each filed well over the required 1,000 signatures on nominating petitions by Tuesday's deadline.

State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams led the pack, announcing that his staff and volunteers had gathered signatures from 15,269 registered Democratic voters.

Former City Councilman James F. Kenney was not far behind, with 12,167 signatures.

Former Common Pleas Court Judge Nelson A. Diaz's campaign said he had 4,939 signatures.

Former State Sen. T. Milton Street Sr., who ran for mayor in 2011 after serving 26 months in federal prison for not paying taxes on $3 million in income, filed 3,261 signatures for another run.

Street needed two tries to submit his signatures Tuesday. He was turned away the first time because he had not completed all of the paperwork necessary to become a candidate.

For City Council, four of 10 incumbents in district seats will face challengers in the primary.

Kenyatta Johnson (Second District) will face real estate developer Ori Feibush.

Jannie L. Blackwell (Third District) is running against Tony Dphax King, who attempted to run against Blackwell in 2011 but was removed from the ballot.

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Six Democrats file petitions to run for Philly mayor

Barrasso: Time for Senate Democrats to Stop Blocking DHS Funding

By: barrassowyo

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Barrasso: Time for Senate Democrats to Stop Blocking DHS Funding - Video

Democrats Finally Showing Some Spine?
The Republicans cave on Department of Homeland Security funding. The Democrats finally showing spine? Cliff Schecter joins us to discuss. This clip from the Majority Report, live M-F at...

By: Sam Seder

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Democrats Finally Showing Some Spine? - Video

Top New York Democrats are whispering for the first time that Hillary Clinton may not be their presidential candidate next year. And while theyre far from agreeing on whom it might be, they do agree on one thing: It wont be Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

People in the party all hate him, one of the states best-known Democratic operatives told The Post.

A prominent Democratic elected official added, Theres an ABC factor at work here. Its Anybody But Cuomo.

In a series of interviews remarkable for their hostility toward Cuomo, several top Democrats well known to the public told The Post that should Clinton be forced to abandon her quest for the presidency by the scandal over her private State Department email accounts, there is no clear alternative for New Yorkers.

It could be a big progressive type like [Mass. Sen.] Elizabeth Warren or [Mayor Bill] de Blasio and maybe [former Maryland Gov.] Martin OMalley or [Attorney General] Eric Schneiderman theres no clear choice, said a New York City-area Democratic activist.

But who it wont be is Andrew Cuomo, the activist added.

Cuomo, who has been increasingly at odds with other Democratic elected officials, including deBlasio, Schneiderman and state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, was widely described as detached and aloof from his partys activities and, as a result, without a significant party following.

With Mario Cuomo, there was tremendous support for him within the party that he had earned, to the point where Democrats were constantly courting him to run for president, an experienced Democratic official recalled of the governors father.

To get that kind of support, you need to start early, develop relationships, have successes. But for whatever reason, Andrew Cuomo hasnt done that.

Cuomo has been widely mentioned by commentators as a possible candidate for president if Clinton doesnt run, but a series of setbacks, including the investigation by US Attorney Preet Bharara into the governors closing of the Moreland panel on corruption, as well as Cuomos disappointing showing in last years gubernatorial primary, has cut into his standing.

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Democrats: Anybody but Cuomo for president