As Robert Gibbs mentioned earlier today, Vice President Biden continues to be the White House’s point man on START. The veep met with Senator Kerry this morning to discuss the treaty:
Vice President Joseph Biden met with Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) on Monday to map out a strategy for passing the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, but they still face a heavy lift overcoming resistance from key Republicans.
Biden is spearheading the administration’s efforts to ratify the arms deal with Russia, which President Barack Obama has deemed a priority for the lame-duck Congress.
“Chairman Kerry is committed to working with his colleagues and the administration to bring this treaty to a vote in the Senate before the end of the year,” a Kerry spokesman said.
The White House has been scrambling to lure GOP allies on START and lobbying individual Senators for support. But Obama was dealt a blow last week when Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) announced his opposition to dealing with the treaty during the lame-duck session, citing a crowded agenda. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) has also signaled an unwillingness to moving on the treaty this year.