Obama Lobbies Lawmakers over Syria Strike

U.S. President Barack Obama launched an intense lobbying effort Sunday to sway skeptical lawmakers weighing whether to support a military strike against Syria.

The strategy was outlined by a senior White House official.

Obama -- as well as Vice President Joe Biden and the White House chief of staff -- made individual calls to members of Congress Sunday, according to the official. More are planned for Monday, a federal holiday.

That came on top of a classified briefing held on Capitol Hill late Sunday. More meetings, at the White House, are planned for select members of Congress over the coming two days.

On the heels of Obama's surprise announcement, the White House formally asked Congress on Saturday for authorization to conduct strikes in a draft resolution framing a narrow set of operations.

But it remains to be seen if war-weary lawmakers will endorse Obama's push for action -- or hand him a bitter defeat. Many, including influential Republican Senator John McCain, remain unsure they can support the White House resolution.

"In all calls and briefings, we will be making the same fundamental case: the failure to take action against Assad unravels the deterrent impact of the international norm against chemical weapons use, and it risks emboldening Assad and his key allies -- Hizbullah and Iran -- who will see that there are no consequences for such a flagrant violation of an international norm," the senior White House official said.

"Anyone who is concerned about Iran and its efforts in the region should support this action," the official added.