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U.S. Senate Democrats made the opening move in their effort to portray Republicans as out of step with mainstream Americans on the question of whether humans cause climate change.

Democrats maneuvered a vote on an amendment Wednesday that would designate climate change as a man-made event. Although the amendment was defeated, Republicans were forced to take a stand on the issue before the 2016 campaign begins.

The vote was intended to help determine who the climate-change deniers in the U.S. Senate really are, third-ranking Democrat Charles Schumer of New York said a day before the vote. Do they deny that human activity has helped create climate change? Stay tuned -- well see.

A Global Push to Save the Planet

The Senate, by a 50-49 vote with 60 required, rejected the amendment to a Republican bill approving TransCanada Corp. (TRP)s Keystone XL oil pipeline. Republicans control the Senate 54-46.

The amendment, offered by Senator Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat, would have deemed that climate change is real and that human activity significantly contributes to it.

South Dakota Senator John Thune, the chambers third-ranking Republican, said the proposal had political undertones.

Obviously, its a very politically motivated vote, he said. They would love to get a bunch of Republicans voting against those amendments.

Five Republicans voted in favor of Schatzs amendment -- Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Susan Collins of Maine, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Mark Kirk of Illinois. No Democrats voted against it.

Ten additional Republicans also voted for a separate proposal that said human activities contribute to climate change, though it didnt call the contribution significant.

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Senate Democrats Play Offense on Climate Change Ahead of 2016

In one of the most stunning rebukes of a sitting president by a member of his own party, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) accused President Obama of taking his talking points on Iran straight out of Tehran after the State of the Union Address.

Its not the first time the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has disagreed with the president.

In early January, when Obama announced his unilateral opening to Cuba, Menendez said the administration got absolutely nothing for giving up everything that the Castro regime wants.

Menendez gives hope that there are at least a few Democrats who understand the nature of totalitarian regimes.

He knows a bad deal when he sees one. And the presidents line on Irans nuclear program that weve halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material is nothing short of a lie.

Now, the question for Democrats will be whether others will join Menendez in pushing for tougher sanctions against Iran.

The president has already announced hell veto a sanctions bill, but Menendez would need only 12 other Democrats to join the 54-member Republican majority to overturn a veto.

Wishful thinking? Maybe. But 11 Democrats in the Senate have co-sponsored Iran-sanctions legislation along with Menendez. If all could be persuaded to vote to overturn a veto, Menendez would need only one more, assuming the GOP ranks hold firm.

The stakes are high enough that fear of what Iran could do with a nuclear arsenal might trump the usual partisan politics.

Menendez has introduced a bill with Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) that would apply tough new sanctions if the talks dont produce an acceptable agreement by June 30.

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Democrats revolt on Iran

By Emily Cahn Posted at 5 a.m. on Jan. 23

Kirk is a Republican from Illinois. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Democrats are driving toward a primary collision course in Illinois, where the party could endure a multimillion-dollar slugfest in a race essential to capturing Senate control in 2016.

A fourth House Democrat, Rep. Robin Kelly, told CQ Roll Call she is weighing a bid against GOP Sen. Mark S. Kirk. She joins the growing list of members considering bids, including Democratic Reps. Cheri Bustos,Tammy Duckworth and Bill Foster.

Im just doing my due diligence to look at if there is a pathway in the Senate race, Kelly said in a phone interview after votes on Wednesday afternoon. If I feel like I find a pathway for me then I will do it, irregardless of who else runs.

Democrats do not expect all four House Democrats to enter the race. But even if just two House members run for Senate, Democrats could endure the most contentious primary for a competitive Senate seat in six years.Kirk, who faces re-election in a state President Barack Obama carried by 17 points in 2012, nears thetop of the Democratic target listas the party aims to pick up the five seats necessary to ensure Senate control.

Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin, who has personal and political ties to a number of Democrats mulling bids, said he does not fear a bloody primary.

I think theres going to be a process and a hierarchy of decisions. Were going through that right now, Durbin told CQ Roll Call. I think at the end of the day its likely the potential field will diminish, down to one or two very serious candidates.

But a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee declined to commenton whether it would intervene in the primary. And operatives in the Land of Lincoln said convincing Democrats to sit the race out could be tough.

We kind of just duke it out in our federal primaries, said Tom Bowen, a former political director for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

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Democrats Could Face Primary Mess in Illinois Senate Race

By Emily Cahn Posted at 5 a.m. on Jan. 23

Kirk is a Republican from Illinois. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Democrats are driving toward a primary collision course in Illinois, where the party could endure a multimillion-dollar slugfest in a race essential to capturing Senate control in 2016.

A fourth House Democrat, Rep. Robin Kelly, told CQ Roll Call she is weighing a bid against GOP Sen. Mark S. Kirk. She joins the growing list of members considering bids, including Democratic Reps. Cheri Bustos,Tammy Duckworth and Bill Foster.

Im just doing my due diligence to look at if there is a pathway in the Senate race, Kelly said in a phone interview after votes on Wednesday afternoon. If I feel like I find a pathway for me then I will do it, irregardless of who else runs.

Democrats do not expect all four House Democrats to enter the race. But even if just two House members run for Senate, Democrats could endure the most contentious primary for a competitive Senate seat in six years.Kirk, who faces re-election in a state President Barack Obama carried by 17 points in 2012, nears thetop of the Democratic target listas the party aims to pick up the five seats necessary to ensure Senate control.

Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin, who has personal and political ties to a number of Democrats mulling bids, said he does not fear a bloody primary.

I think theres going to be a process and a hierarchy of decisions. Were going through that right now, Durbin told CQ Roll Call. I think at the end of the day its likely the potential field will diminish, down to one or two very serious candidates.

But a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee declined to commenton whether it would intervene in the primary. And operatives in the Land of Lincoln said convincing Democrats to sit the race out could be tough.

We kind of just duke it out in our federal primaries, said Tom Bowen, a former political director for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

More here:
Democrats Fear Primary Mess in Illinois Senate Race

By Alexis Levinson Posted at 1:31 p.m. on Jan. 23

Portman is a Republican from Ohio. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Ohio Democrats are expecting a crowded primary to challenge Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, in 2016, and the recent announcement by Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld may have accelerated its formation.

The 30-year-old Sittenfeld announced Thursdaythat he would get into the race. Democrats describe him as a charismatic and a rising star within the party, but his early announcement speaks to the fact that this local office holder has hurdles to raise his name recognition and ample cash for a federal race. And other Democratic candidates wont let him do that for too long without any competition.

Its the starting gun for sure, said Ohio Democratic strategist Steve Fought. They cant let anybody out there unimpeded in clear water.

There are a number of contenders who have expressed interest.

Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, told CQ Roll Call in early December that he was considering it, and said Thursday that it was still very much on the table. In interview in the Speakers Lobby, Ryan said he would make a decision in the next month.

Ive got a seven-month-old baby at home that Im completely enamored with, and everything else is not as interesting as he is, Ryan, 41, explained. So thats kind of my big decision now, do I want to be away from home over these precious first year or two.

Ryan said he had spoken to Sittenfeld a few times, calling him a great guy, a great candidate, great young leader. But Ryan said he thought hed be in a stronger position than the City Councilman if he enters the race.

I think we have a lot of support around the state in a lot of the different interest groups that support Democrats, and weve been raising money nationally now for awhile, and we would try to bring that all to bear on the Senate race, he added.

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Several Ohio Democrats Considering Senate Primary