Little support for Syria strike in Congress, CBS News estimate shows
Even after weeks of intense lobbying from the Obama administration in support of a congressional resolution to authorize the use of military force in Syria, only about one in 10 members of Congress are currently in favor of military action or leaning towards supporting it, according to the latest CBS News estimate.
As of Tuesday, 27 senators supported the resolution or were leaning towards supporting it, while 33 said they would vote against it or were leaning towards voting against it. As many as 40 of the Senate's 100 members are undecided.
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In the House, there is less support for the proposed military action: 199 members are opposed to it or are leaning towards opposing it, while 32 support it or are leaning towards supporting it. Another 189 representatives are undecided, and there are 13 whose position is unknown.
Given the fast-moving negotiations with Syria over its chemical weapons stockpile, it's possible a vote on the resolution may not even happen, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Tuesday. The White House has been in talks with other United Nations members over a potential diplomatic deal with Syria, which could avert a U.S. military strike if Syria gave up its chemical weapons stockpile. Still, the administration argues that Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime would not have even acknowledged the existence of its chemical weapons stockpile had it not been for the credible threat of a U.S. military strike.
Among the 23 senators who say they will support military action, 15 are Democrats and eight are Republicans. There are four Democrats who are leaning towards supporting it.
Twenty-seven senators say they will not support military action, including seven Democrats and 20 Republicans. Another six -- Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and four Republicans -- are leaning towards not supporting it.
Among those senators who are undecided, there are 25 Democrats, 14 Republicans and one independent (Sen. Angus King, I-Maine).
In the House, there are 83 representatives who say they are definitely opposed, including 67 Republicans and 16 Democrats. Of the 116 leaning against it, 88 are Republicans and 28 are Democrats.
There are 17 representatives (six Republicans and 11 Democrats) in favor of military action, and 15 leaning towards supporting it (three Republicans and 12 Democrats).
Among those who are undecided, 64 are Republican and 125 are Democrat.
