Incoming GOP senator: Keystone votes are there

Sen.-elect Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) on Sunday said President Obama would be smart to compromise on approving the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

“I think he would be really smart to do it, when he sees a margin in the Senate of probably 65 votes,” she said on “Fox News Sunday.” “I would hope so. I mean, if we are looking at jobs, if we are looking at infrastructure, we’ve got an energy growth in our country that we really need to capitalize on.” 

She said she hopes Congress could score a series of “small victories” to re-engage dissatisfied citizens, pointing to a vote on the pipeline, tax reform and transportation legislation. 

Obama helped unify the GOP in the midterms, she said, adding that dissatisfaction with the president’s policies drove the GOP gains. 

Republicans won back the majority in the Senate during Tuesday’s midterm elections. Advocates for the pipeline will make up more than 60 votes in the new Congress.  

During a press conference Wednesday, Obama said he is going to let the permitting process at the State Department play out.