The key senator to watch is Minority Whip Jon Kyl of Arizona, the Republican point man on the treaty. Kyl, who is in talks with the office of Vice President Joseph Biden, isn’t saying which way he’s leaning — but his friends say Kyl is getting closer to supporting ratification.

Utah Sen. Bob Bennett told The Cable in an exclusive interview Tuesday that he wants to vote for the treaty, but is holding off until he gets the nod from his leadership.

“I’m waiting for Senator Kyl to finish his analysis, but he’s leaning yes and I’m leaning yes,” Bennett said.

Contrary to some Republicans who don’t believe that reducing nuclear stockpiles is a good idea at all, such as Jim DeMint, R-SC, James Inhofe, R-OK, and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Bennett said the treaty is a good idea and even characterized it as a constructive part of President Obama’s reset policy with Russia.