Reid faces double-digit defections on Syria strike measure.

Reid faces double-digit defections on Syria strike measure.HT: TheHill.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is bracing for double-digit defections in the Democratic caucus on the resolution authorizing military strikes on Syria, which will get a vote this coming week.

The Syria resolution presents Reid with one of the biggest tests of his leadership this Congress and the outcome has significant effects for President Obama’s domestic and foreign policy agendas.

Failure of the measure in the Democratic-controlled upper chamber could spur House Republicans to pick a fight with the weakened president over the budget, as well as embolden the regimes of Iran and North Korea.

“The president’s team has really given him a tough one this time but, as always, when the president asks him to do something, Sen. Reid quickly tries to get it done,” said Jim Manley, a former senior advisor to Reid.

With already four Democratic senators saying they will likely oppose the measure, the pressure is building on Reid to reach out across the aisle.

“If this vote were to fail, it will have huge consequences not only for the president’s domestic policy but also his foreign policy and for the people of Syria. This is about as high stakes as you can get,” Manley added. “How’s Iran and North Korea going to react to a defeat? How are House Republicans going to deal with the debt limit?”

“The goal is not to keep the caucus together, it’s to pass this resolution,” said a senior Senate Democratic aide. “I think we’ll lose a fair number of Democrats. We’ll probably lose double-digits Democrats.”

Liberal grassroots activists are ratcheting up the pressure on Democratic senators.

“I would hope and expect to see opposition build among Senate Democrats and House Democrats in the next few days,” said Anna Galland, executive director of MoveOn.org Civic Action.

Galland said members of MoveOn.org would hold Democratic lawmakers accountable for their vote in future elections.

“It is a consequential vote for the future and our members will look back at this vote when trying to figure out whom to vote for in future elections,” she said.

She said MoveOn.org polled its entire membership before taking a position against the resolution.

Reid remains confident he will be able to pass the controversial measure by relying on Republican votes to overcome the 60-vote threshold required. Read the full story here.