WASHINGTON — House members staking out positions are either opposed to or leaning against President Barack Obama’s plan for a military strike against Syria by nearly a 6-to-1 margin, a survey by The Associated Press shows. The Senate is more evenly divided ahead of its vote next week.
Still, the situation is very fluid. About half of the 433-member House and a third of the 100-member Senate remain undecided.
By their statements or those of aides, 31 members of the Republican-led House support intervention or are leaning in favor of authorizing use force against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government. About 185 House members outright oppose U.S. involvement or are leaning against authorization, according to the survey.
The situation in the Democrat-controlled Senate is better for Obama but hardly conclusive. The survey showed those who support or are leaning in favor of military action holding a slight 34-32 advantage over those opposed or leaning against it.
Complicating the effort in the Senate is the possibility that a three-fifths majority might be required. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky says he is going to filibuster. The Associated Press
