Iran deal picks up support following Reid’s endorsement

With Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid on board, the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers is picking up momentum to survive fierce opposition from Republican and Israeli opponents.

 

A day after Reid’s announcement that he will back the deal pushed by President Barack Obama, Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow threw her support behind the agreement too, declaring in a press release Monday: “I have determined that the imminent threat of Iran having a nuclear weapon outweighs any flaws I see in the international agreement. For this reason, I must support the agreement.”

 

Stabenow became the 28th Senate Democratic supporter of the deal, pushing backers closer to the 34 votes they would need to sustain Obama’s veto of any resolution of disapproval. Increasingly supporters seem to be in reach of getting the 41 votes they would need to block such a resolution from passing the Senate in the first place, despite unanimous GOP opposition and furious lobbying by backers of Israel.

 

Reid announced his support on Sunday, pledging to do “everything in my power” to support the pact.

 

Only two Senate Democrats — Chuck Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey — have announced opposition to the deal.

 

Instead, steady stream of Democrats have recently backed the deal, and Reid’s support provided an opportunity for others to jump on board. Reid’s announcement came ahead of Obama’s visit to Nevada Monday for an energy summit.

 

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