Kerry and Moniz make final push for Iran deal

Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz met with about 20 Democratic senators Wednesday in a final push to block a resolution disapproving of the Iran nuclear deal.

Forty-two Democrats have announced their support for the deal, which imposes an inspections regime on Iran’s nuclear program, but some of them are wavering over whether to filibuster the disapproval measure.

{mosads}A group of centrists met in the Capitol Tuesday evening and again Wednesday morning to discuss their strategy.

“We are whipping them at this moment. We’ll know a little bit more at lunch time,” said Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), who is leading the effort to round up support for the nuclear agreement.

Only four Democrats are opposed to the deal: Sens. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Bob Menendez (N.J.), Ben Cardin (Md.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.).

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) needs at least six Democratic votes to overcome a filibuster and send the disapproval resolution to President Obama’s desk.

Kerry thanked Durbin for what he called his “tremendous leadership” in coalescing Democratic support for the accord.

“We are deeply impressed by the fact that 42 of them have publicly come out and made it clear that they support this agreement. They believe it makes Israel and the region safer, it reduces the threat of a nuclear weapon by extraordinary inspection and it withstands scrutiny,” Kerry told reporters.

Not a single Republican senator favors the accord.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) has proposed skipping cloture vote and proceeding directly to a final up-or-down vote as long as it’s set at a 60-vote threshold. McConnell has so far rejected this path.

Centrist Senate Democrats say they’re waiting for McConnell and Reid to work out an agreement before deciding how to vote on ending the filibuster.

“I think this is an issue that should be resolved between Reid and McConnell so we can have a full, fair and open debate, no amendment process and get to final passage by a 60-vote margin,” said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.)

Moniz said 30 Democratic senators met with him at his office to discuss the intricate details of the deal.

“It’s the kind of attention this kind of issue deserves,” he said.