The Obama administration is bypassing Capitol Hill as it works to get gun-control efforts passed, with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden planning trips outside Washington to build public support.
Obama's gun control plans depend on many Democratic senators who come from states with strong weapons rights supporters, and the administration's plans to bypass them and take the cause to the people marks a more aggressive strategy than Obama took in his first term of office, reports
the Washington Post.
The president is mobilizing supporters through his former campaign committee, Organizing for Action, which will run grassroots campaigns to pressure lawmakers. Plans are also under way for Obama and Biden to meet with police, clergy, hunters, and others who back their proposals.
The campaign will begin in earnest on Friday, when Biden travels to Richmond, Va., with Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Cabinet secretaries to hold a roundtable session focuses on the 2007 Virginia Tech mass shooting.
Meanwhile, the president is considering inviting families of children who died in Newtown to join first lady Michelle Obama in her viewing box during the State of the Union address on Feb. 12, a source told The Post.
However, unless Obama can mobilize voters, his gun control plans will have problems in Congress. The National Rifle Association says that the American people know bans don't work, and it's confident Congress will reject the measures being proposed by Democratic Sens. Diane Feinstein, of California, and Dick Durbin, of Illinois.
The bills also are unlikely to attract partisan support, particularly among lawmakers who have NRA backing. Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, of West Virginia, has an "A" rating from the powerful lobbying group. He said he's talking to the NRA about backing "common sense" background checks.
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