White House: START Will Pass by Christmas

Doubts grew in recent weeks that the START weapons treaty with Russia would attract enough Republican support to pass the Senate – it needs 67 votes. But White House press secretary Robert Gibbs expresses confidence that the treaty will be approved, The Hill reports.

That confidence stems from statements Tuesday by Republican Sens. John McCain (pictured), the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, and George Voinovich that they hope for ratification this year. "You saw yesterday increasing willingness from Republican senators to get the treaty done," Gibbs told the “Early Show” on CBS. “The START treaty will be done by Christmas."

Chief GOP negotiator Sen. Jon Kyl has complained that the treaty would prevent the United States from modernizing its nuclear weapons and deploying an adequate missile defense. But McCain is optimistic Kyl’s concerns can be addressed.