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TIME Politics Congress Inside Landrieus Last Fight: Keystone or Bust Senator Mary Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana, holds a news conference with fellow committee member Senator Joe Manchin, Democrat of West Virginia, on the Keystone XL pipeline in Washington on Nov. 12, 2014 Gary CameronReuters The Search for 60

Before the doors to the Senators private elevator closed on embattled Louisiana Democrat Mary Landrieu in the basement of the Capitol building Monday afternoon, a reporter shouted to her from the hallway outside: Who is the 60th? She replied with a wink.

With just hours to go before a Tuesday night vote to authorize the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline, Landrieu claims to have the 60 votes she needs for a filibuster-proof majority to ensure passage, but her supporters say they have just 59 votes. If she gets to 60 and the Senate passes the bill, despite opposition from Senate Democratic leaders and the White House, Landrieu hopes it will increase her diminishing chances at re-election in a run-off vote in Louisiana early next month.

Landrieu is still pulling out every stop, calling, texting, pleading, begging, says a Senate Democrat aide. Leadershipthey occasionally check in to make sure [my boss is] not flipping, but theyve been keeping tabs on it[My boss] had already told Landrieu no about 15 times before he got his first Harry Reid call.

Landrieus hunt for a 60th has become a bigger battle between powerful, well-funded environmentalists and energy interests. Passage of the bill would be the strongest signal to President Barack Obama, after six years of debate, that there is now robust political support in favor of building the pipeline.

The Chamber of Commerce has sent around letters supporting the pipeline, even putting the vote on its annual scorecard that helps determine which candidates the powerful business lobby will support in the future. A number of labor groups, including the Laborers International Union of North America, North Americas Building Trades Unions and the International Union of Operating Engineers have written letters urging Senators to vote yes.

American Petroleum Institute President Jack Gerard, who fully expects the bill to pass, touted its outreach Monday, telling TIME that Senators have heard from multiple thousands of constituents burning up the Hills phone lines. I promise you theyve heard from thousands of their constituents over the past week or two in the post-election cycle, Gerard says. These arent industry people, these are voters in their respective states.

The anti-Keystone side has also increased the pressure. On Thursday, League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski hovered just off the Senate floor, giving a hug to Democrat Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware after their conversation, according to a Senate Democrat aide. Coons, a Landrieu target, will likely vote no on the bill.

Our hope is that it wont matter, says David Goldston, the top lobbyist for the anti-Keystone National Resources Defense Council, of the bill, which faces a possible veto from Obama even if it passes. It will either confirm Congress unwillingness to step in on an ongoing process or it will confirm the Presidents unwillingness to allow Congress to step in on an ongoing matter.

Outside groups have even already claimed some credit in influencing the outcome. Jason Kowalski, the policy director of anti-Keystone 350.org, said that his group decided to turn up the heat on Michigan Democrat Sen. Carl Levin after hearing that his front desk was telling callers the Senator was undecided.

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Inside Landrieus Last Fight: Keystone or Bust