Report: Dems considering Keystone vote for Landrieu

Senate Democrats are considering bringing legislation to the floor during the lame-duck session that would approve construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, according to a report in Bloomberg.

{mosads}The report by Bloomberg, quoting a Democratic Senate aide, said Democrats are considering the vote as part of an effort to save Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.).

Landrieu, who supports the pipeline, faces a runoff election next month against Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). She is seen as the heavy underdog in the race.

If Landrieu is able to cast her vote backing the Canada-to-Texas pipeline, then it could prove she maintains influence in the Democratic caucus and does not follow President Obama’s lead.

The report by Bloomberg said aides were still determining the language for the measure.

A Republican Senate aide told The Hill they were hearing Democrats might seek a Keystone vote.

There is a possibiity Democrats could try to attach a measure approving the pipeline to the defense authorization bill during the lame-duck session.