Politics | Nate Silver Climate Bill's Best Hope? Drill, Baby, Drill Kerry/Graham compromise could pick up 2-4 votes By Kevin Spak Posted Oct 14, 2009 1:13 PM CDT Copied Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, and John Kerry, D-Mass., appear on "Fox News Sunday" in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008. (AP Photo/FOX News Sunday, Freddie Lee) The new climate bill introduced with some fanfare by John Kerry and Lindsey Graham actually has a fighting chance of getting through the Senate, thanks to its offshore drilling provision. Despite Democrats’ supermajority, cap-and-trade legislation probably only had between 52 and 55 votes before this. But this bill, which also includes nuclear energy support, could peel Republicans off the sidelines, writes Nate Silver. At FiveThirtyEight.com, Silver looked at each coastal state to determine the new bill’s impact. Drilling is probably what brought Graham aboard in the first place, and likely also swings Lisa Murkowski. It takes Mark Begich from a leaner to a yes, and could encourage Mary Landrieu and George LeMieux, among other less likely candidates. Overall, Silver concludes, the drilling should add two to four votes, giving the legislation a puncher’s chance. Read These Next New York Times ranks the best movies of the 21st century. A man has been deported for kicking an airport customs beagle. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. Actor Sam Rockwell gets residuals from movie he wasn't in. Report an error