"All Eyes on Sen. Kyl as Obama Presses Nuclear Treaty"

"As President Obama pushes for ratification of his signature nuclear treaty with Russia in coming days, all eyes are on one Republican.

Sen. Jon Kyl (Ariz.) has been his party's leading voice on the treaty and has pressed the administration to commit to a major modernization of the country's weapons labs in exchange for approval of the pact.

The administration sent a delegation that included Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of U.S. nuclear forces, to Arizona to woo Kyl on Friday, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will meet with Kyl this week to try to seal a deal, according to two officials.

Even Obama, who has called ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) his No. 1 foreign-policy priority in the lame-duck session beginning this week, has noted Kyl's influence. "

Mary Beth Sheridan and Walter Pincus report for the Washington Post November 15, 2010.

SEE ALSO:

"'Safer Environment' to Emerge from New START Treaty" (ENS)

"Bipartisan Utah pair pushes N-Treaty " (Salt Lake Tribune)

"Is a Full Stop Likely For New START?" (CNN)

"Obama Feels 'Reasonably Good' on Prospects for Russian Nuclear Treaty" (CNN)

"Looming Partisan Shift Adds Urgency to Nuke Treaty" (IPS)

Opinion: "Failing To Ratify New START Has Real Consequences" (The Hill)

"Sarah Palin vs. Admiral Mullen over New START" (Huffington Post)

Opinion: Nuclear Pork Sweetens Lame-Duck START Vote (Democracy Arsenal)