WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is telephoning lawmakers to win Senate approval of a new arms pact with Russia, even as a top Democrat concedes “house by house combat” will be needed to prevail.
The president is continuing to call senators as he presses for passage of the New START treaty before Congress adjourns, according to deputy press secretary Bill Burton.
The treaty — initialed in April — would slash deployed nuclear arsenals by roughly a third.
On Sunday, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell said he’ll oppose the pact over concerns about verification and missile defense. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., predicted approval but acknowledged winning the required two-thirds vote will be “a real slog.”
