Feb. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The Senate's Republican and Democratic leaders continued their legislative brinksmanship that has blocked consideration of a measure opposing the U.S. troop buildup in Iraq.

Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky insisted yesterday that the Senate be allowed to vote on a resolution expressing support for U.S. forces in Iraq as well as one criticizing President George W. Bush's decision to send 21,500 more troops into the conflict.

Majority Leader Harry Reid again rejected McConnell's demand, calling the resolution of support a ``diversion.'' Republicans say the Nevada Democrat fears that it alone among several competing proposals will muster the 60 votes needed for approval.

The stalemate, produced by a confluence of arcane rules and powerful political crosscurrents, has raised the possibility that the Senate won't hold a vote on the Iraq troop buildup even though lawmakers from both parties call it the most important issue facing the country.

``That is one of the specialties of the U.S. Senate: stamping down clear statements with gobbledygook,'' said Senator Barack Obama, an Illinois Democrat.

Reid was emboldened in his refusal to yield by the fallout from the Feb. 5 vote to stop Senate consideration of the issue. Several Republican senators acknowledged that their party has suffered at least short-term political damage from that vote, in which all but two of 49 Republicans voted to halt further action because of the procedural impasse.

Appearance of Blocking

``I think it's very unfortunate that we appear to be blocking, when the fact is that Senator Reid will not allow us to have our amendments proposed,'' said Senator John McCain, an Arizona Republican who supports the troop buildup.

Senator Norm Coleman, a Minnesota Republican who disagrees with the buildup, also voiced concern about ``the way the public message played'' and said he wants the impasse to be broken. ``The bottom line for me is, let's have the discussion, let's have the debate,'' said Coleman, one of the two Republicans who broke with his party on the Feb. 5 vote.

Coleman is one of several Republican senators who face potentially difficult re-election campaigns next year in states where opposition to the Iraq conflict is high. Others in that category are Susan Collins of Maine, Gordon Smith of Oregon and John Sununu of New Hampshire.

House Vote

The Senate may be spurred to action by the decision of House leaders to schedule a vote for next week on a resolution opposing the troop buildup. The House's Democratic leaders, who initially said they would wait for the Senate to act first on the issue, said they decided to go forward because of the Senate impasse.

Reid, while rejecting further negotiations with McConnell for a procedural deal, said he would find other ways to force consideration of an Iraq resolution, perhaps as amendments to other legislation.

``They may stop us temporarily from debating escalation, but they aren't going to stop us from debating Iraq,'' Reid said.

Republicans say they aren't blocking a vote. Instead, Democrats are unfairly trying to dictate what the Senate can consider and preventing a full and open debate on Iraq, McConnell said.

Only last week, an agreement between two senior senators, Virginia Republican John Warner and Michigan Democrat Carl Levin, on language for a resolution opposing the buildup seemed to pave the way for Senate action.

Republican Filibuster

The bipartisan nature of the measure increased chances that it would attract 60 votes, the minimum number needed under Senate rules to choke off a threatened Republican filibuster and secure approval.

The Bush administration countered with a strong lobbying campaign by the president and other officials to hold Republican support for Bush's policy.

In addition, two Democratic senators, Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, announced their opposition to the Warner-Levin measure, saying it was too weak because it didn't force Bush to cancel the troop buildup. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, opposes the resolution because he supports the buildup.

Stick With the President

Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who supports Bush's plan, said he and like-minded lawmakers have urged members of their party to stick with the president even though polls show strong public disapproval of the buildup. A Fox News poll conducted Jan. 30-31 showed 57 percent of Americans oppose the plan.

Speaking with reporters on his way into a weekly Republican policy luncheon yesterday, Cornyn was asked if he thought Republican defectors were acting out of political motives.

``I don't want to impugn anyone's motives,'' he said. After a pause, he added: ``So, I think it's time for me to go to lunch.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Ken Fireman in Washington at kfireman1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: February 7, 2007 06:33 EST