D.C. Vote Activists Set Sights on Specific Senators

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ALTHOUGH THEIR LATEST EFFORTS to secure a full and equal vote in the House of Representatives fell short on Tuesday, proponents of D.C. voting rights aren't giving up yet — they've kicked off a new effort to sway a number of senators who they think could be potential yes votes when the bipartisan legislation makes it back to the Senate floor. Whenever that might be.

The senators above — from left, Republicans Thad Cochran of Mississippi, John McCain of Arizona, Gordon Smith of Oregon and Democrat Max Baucus of Montana — voted no on Tuesday but had earlier pledged to support the bill, voting rights activists say.

The senators below — from left, Republicans John Sununu of New Hampshire, John Warner of Virginia and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska — voted no, but activists hope to win them over. At far right, Democrat Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who was not present for Tuesday's vote but publicly came out against the bill, is another senator the activists see as a potential swing vote.

As The Post's Mary Beth Sheridan reports, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights is pledging to target all of the senators pictured above. But might it be a fruitless pursuit, at least in the short term? Observers have noted that it's highly unlikely the legislation would be brought back up for a vote until next year and maybe not until the new Congress convenes in 2009, when Democrats are expected to have picked up a few seats.

» "Legislation's Backers to Target Senators Who Blocked Action" [WaPo]

» EARLIER: "D.C. Vote Bill Fails in Senate" [Free Ride/Express]

Washington Post file photos