WASHINGTON (AP) — For all its fraught politics and geopolitical import, the Iran nuclear agreement offers something very personal for Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois: a chance at political redemption.
Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, is leading the effort to round up Senate support for the international deal that aims to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from economic sanctions. On the other side is Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the No. 3 Senate Democrat, who outmaneuvered Durbin earlier this year to win retiring Minority Leader Harry Reid’s blessing to be Democrats’ next leader — a very public embarrassment for Durbin.
This time, though, Durbin is on the winning side. And to the surprise of many, supporters of the Iran deal are piling up enough votes that they may even be able to block a resolution of disapproval in the Senate next month, meaning President Barack Obama wouldn’t have to use his veto pen — an outcome that looked all but inconceivable in the days after the deal was signed July 14.
“Dick stepped up in a big way when the caucus and the president and those of us who support the agreement needed him,” said Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy. “And his effort has really been critical to the momentum heading in the right direction.” (READ MORE)
