Pryor joins a wide ideological spectrum of Democrats opposing the resolution. Pryor joins Dem 'no' vote on Syria

Mark Pryor will not support President Barack Obama’s request for Congress to bless military action in Syria, contrasting the vulnerable Arkansas Democrat with his 2014 GOP Senate challenger Rep. Tom Cotton.

Pryor said Saturday that after lobbying from the administration and hearing input from his constituents he concluded that the White House has not made an effective case for the U.S. to intervene in the Syrian civil war.


“The Administration must prove a compelling national security interest, clearly define a mission that has a definitive end-state, and then build a true coalition of allies that would actively participate in any action we take,” Pryor said. “I do not believe these criteria have been met, and I cannot support military action against Syria at this time.”

The two-term senator is facing perhaps the toughest upper-chamber reelection campaign in his battle against the hawkish Cotton, a freshman who supports a military reaction to the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime.

( PHOTOS: Syria: Where politicians stand)

Cotton is among the few House Republicans to publicly back Obama’s proposed action in Syria, citing the need to uphold an “international taboo” on chemical weapon use, reassure allies in the Middle East such as Israel and Jordan and uphold U.S. credibility overseas.

“Put simply, our core national-security interests are at stake,” Cotton said this week. “I share concerns that the president won’t execute a strategically sound military campaign. Nevertheless, I believe that U.S. inaction would still be a worse outcome for our national-security interests.”

Pryor joins a wide ideological spectrum of Democrats opposing the resolution that includes Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Tom Udall of New Mexico. The Senate is expected to begin voting on the limited military strike on Wednesday.

John Bresnahan contributed to this report.