News Analysis: White House Needed Bob Corker, But They Didn’t Get Him

Chattanooga (WDEF) – You may have thought it was a foregone conclusion that Senator Bob Corker would oppose the administration’s nuclear deal with Iran.

After all, he’s been skeptical about it long before the deal was signed.

He pushed the bill to make sure Congress would have a say in agreeing to it.

And Senator Corker has popped up on every political talk show on TV to raise questions about it.

Still, it was a grave blow for the White House team when the Senate Foreign Relations Chairman officially declared his opposition on Monday in a Washington Post Op-ed story.

"The administration has repeatedly stated that this agreement is about ensuring Iran does not get a nuclear weapon. Therefore, the agreement should be one that allows us to maintain leverage and ensure it is enforceable, is verifiable and holds Iran accountable.

This deal does not do that and instead leaves the United States vulnerable to a resurgent Iran wealthier and more able to work its will in the Middle East."

CBS reports that this is a clear loss for the President.

If they were going to get any backing from Republicans, Senator Corker was their most likely ally.

CBS News congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes says "He’s the closest the administration comes to a Republican ally on foreign affairs, and he repeatedly called for patience when the deadline for the Iran deal kept slipping."

They have already lost Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer who has come out against it.

But the odds are still in their favor.

If Senate Republicans reject the deal, the President threatens a veto.

Then he needs just a third of them to vote his way, and Majority Leader McConnell admits he’ll probably get it.