TIMES OF ISRAEL
by Erica Werner
August 29, 2015

No. 2 Democrat leads effort to garner support for nuclear accord; its approval may strengthen his grip as party whip

For all its fraught politics and geopolitical import, the Iran nuclear agreement offers something very personal for Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois: a chance at political redemption. Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, is leading the effort to round up Senate support for the international deal that aims to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from economic sanctions. On the other side is Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the No. 3 Senate Democrat, who outmaneuvered Durbin earlier this year to win retiring Minority Leader Harry Reid’s blessing to be Democrats’ next leader — a very public embarrassment for Durbin. READ MORE