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Obama locking up votes in Senate for Iran nuclear deal

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2012 file photo, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. is seen in Wilmington, Del. Supporters of the Iran nuclear deal are on the cusp of clinching the necessary Senate votes to keep the contested agreement alive and hand President Barack Obama a major foreign policy victory in spite of furious opposition. Democrats Coons and Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania became the 32nd and 33rd senators to announce support for the deal, just one shy of the 34 votes needed to uphold an Obama veto of GOP legislation aimed at blocking it. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File) FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2012 file photo, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. is seen in Wilmington, Del. Supporters of the Iran nuclear deal are on the cusp of clinching the necessary Senate votes to keep the contested agreement alive and hand President Barack Obama a major foreign policy victory in spite of furious opposition. Democrats Coons and Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania became the 32nd and 33rd senators to announce support for the deal, just one shy of the 34 votes needed to uphold an Obama veto of GOP legislation aimed at blocking it. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

By Associated Press September 2, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama is just one Senate vote shy of being able to declare success on the Iran nuclear deal and cement a foreign policy legacy.

Senate support for the deal now stands at 33 votes, thanks to announcements Tuesday from Democrats Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Chris Coons of Delaware.

Once supporters reach 34 votes, they would be able to uphold Obama’s expected veto of GOP legislation aimed at blocking the Iran deal. That disapproval resolution is set for a vote later this month.

With opposition to the agreement failing to get traction on the Democratic side, supporters may even be able to muster the 41 votes needed to block the resolution from passing in the first place, sparing Obama from having to use his veto pen.