Background check amendment failing?

[n2sooners]

Manchin told NBC News reporter Kelly O’Donnell that his amendment will fail in the Senate when it comes up for a vote:

Sen. Joe Manchin tells me “we will not get the votes today” expanded background checks to fail in Senate. Try again he says.

— Kelly O’Donnell (@KellyO) April 17, 2013

.@sen_joemanchin worked phones until midnight, again at 6am, will keep trying until vote taken this afternoon. Few votes short.

— Kelly O’Donnell (@KellyO) April 17, 2013​

Chuck Todd, NBCs Chief White House Correspondent, speculated that, because the Manchin/Toomey compromise could not pass the House, there is no incentive for legislators who may be vulnerable on the issue of guns in 2014 to pass stricter legislation.

Biggest impediment for Manchin-Toomey? Fact that House couldn’t pass it, so in political risk-reward SEN vote, there was no reward potential

— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) April 17, 2013​

source

But his office is trying to spin it the other way.

Following reports Wednesday morning that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) had conceded that his proposal to expand background checks for gun purchases did not have sufficient support, a spokesman for the West Virginia Democrat issued a statement to convey optimism on the measure's prospects.

"Senator Manchin remains optimistic and hopeful that if Senators and the American people read the bill, they will support his commonsense approach to require criminal and mental background checks for advertised sales, including purchases at gun shows and online sales, without infringing on Americans’ Second Amendment rights,” spokesman Jonathan Kott said in the statement.

“So far Senator Manchin has managed to garner support from an A-rated NRA member and three Republican Senators as well as 90 percent of his own party. With a record like that, I see no reason to bet against Senator Manchin today. He will continue to explain his bill to his colleagues and anyone with concerns until the minute they vote.”

source

Three republicans, a senator with an A rating, and 90% of his own party. Even with 100% of his own party he would need more than three republicans. And I wonder who the A rated senator is? Could it be Manchin himself? Is it a democrat or republican? The way it is phrased "an A rated NRA member AND three Republican Senators" sounds like an A rated democrat, but who knows.

 

[angsniper]

I hope to hell is fails!

 

[n8thegr8]

And I wonder who the A rated senator is? Could it be Manchin himself? Is it a democrat or republican? The way it is phrased "an A rated NRA member AND three Republican Senators" sounds like an A rated democrat, but who knows.

Doesn't Harry Reid have an A rating?

 

[n2sooners]

Doesn't Harry Reid have an A rating?

I was wondering that myself. Could be they have a couple of senators willing to throw away their NRA rating on a bill that will likely die anyway.