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President Barack
Obama's hopes of preserving the nuclear deal were dealt a blow
on Thursday when New York's Schumer came out against it even as
the White House tried to draw attention to other lawmakers who
are backing the agreement.
Earnest told reporters that the Obama administration worked
closely with Schumer to explain details of the deal even before
it was signed in an effort to gain his support.
"Ultimately, it didn't turn out that way. I don't think anybody
was surprised," Earnest said.
Obama is struggling to gain congressional backing for the deal,
which lawmakers must vote on by Sept. 17. Schumer's rejection
means the Obama administration may have to ramp up its lobbying
efforts on Capitol Hill.
Twelve members of the U.S. Congress, seven members in the House
of Representatives and five in the Senate, have publicly come
out in support of the agreement in recent days, showing Obama
had made a persuasive case, Earnest said.
The administration is confident they can continue to build
support before next month's deadline, he added.
(Reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir, Doina Chiacu and Jeff Mason;
Editing by Susan Heavey)
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