Louisiana Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu says she has the 60 votes she needs for the Senate to advance a measure Tuesday that would authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline . Landrieu has been scrambling to attract at least 15 Democrats to join 45 Republicans to reach the critical 60-vote procedural threshold . She told reporters at the Capitol on Monday night that she 'd reached that mark . `` I feel very comfortable , '' Landrieu said . At least 14 Democrats have said they will support the measure . But it 's not clear who has agreed to provide the final vote or whether Landrieu 's comments simply reflect optimism . One of Landrieu 's top targets , West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller , said it wo n't be him . Another target , Maine Sen. Angus King , an independent who caucuses with the Democrats , said he is leaning against supporting the bill . If she can shepherd the legislation through the Senate , it would allow Landrieu to demonstrate her influence one last time ahead of a Dec. 6 run-off election in Louisiana , where she faces Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy , who sponsored the bill authorizing the pipeline when the House approved it on Friday . If the Senate ultimately passes the Keystone bill , a confrontation could emerge between Congress and President Barack Obama . The president said at a news conference late last week that he does n't want Congress to intervene in the State Department 's long-running consideration of the project -- and offered his most specific critique of it yet . `` Understand what this project is : It is providing the ability of Canada to pump their oil , send it through our land , down to the Gulf , where it will be sold everywhere else . It does n't have an impact on U.S. gas prices , '' Obama said at a Friday news conference in Myanmar .
45 senators will vote to advance legislation authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline , Sen. Bill Cassidy says . The Canada Democrat is trying to pass the bill in time to help in her Dec. 6 run-off election against Democrat Mary Landrieu .