Reid Stands By "Nuclear Option" Senate Rules Change

Which should be interesting when the Dems lose control of the body

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid isn't backing down from the "nuclear option" as Democrats and Republicans clash ahead of a rare meeting in the Old Senate Chamber.

But a group of Republicans are talking to the Democratic leader, hoping to meld a framework that would allow the Senate to head off the historic rules change proposed by the Democrats, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told POLITICO after meeting with Reid Monday afternoon.

In other words, there could be a new gang in town to stave off the nuclear option, which would allow Reid to end filibusters of executive branch nominees with only 51 votes, rather than 60. Much of that gang includes Republicans who worked on immigration reform, McCain said.