Democrats try to force vote on Keystone XL in dramatic Senate showdown

WATCH: Why a showdown in the US Senate could lead to a Keystone XL vote by the end of the week.

WASHINGTON – A dramatic showdown over Canada’s Keystone XL pipeline erupted Wednesday on the floor of the United States Senate.

Embattled southern Democrats are trying to force a vote immediately on the long-stalled project.

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Chief among them is Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu, who risks losing her seat in runoff election next month.

Proponents argue that the current Congress has long supported a Keystone bill – but it’s only blocked by the Democratic leadership in the Senate.

Following last week’s midterms, a Keystone vote wasn’t expected until early next year when the new Republican-dominated Congress is sworn in – but it appears some Democrats want to do it now.

The current Congress returned today to kick off a brief, lame-duck session until the new year.