Sinema, Manchin reject Biden push to change filibuster for voting rights

President Joe Biden headed to Capitol Hill Wednesday to persuade Democratic lawmakers to back a major change to Senate rules in order to pass voting rights reform.

As President Joe Biden headed to Capitol Hill on Thursday in an attempt to persuade Democratic lawmakers to back a major change to the Senate's rules that would allow voting rights legislation to move forward, two key Democratic senators again rejected the idea.

Making the trip risked his political capital, after delivering an impassioned speech Tuesday in which he said there was "no option" except for senators to do away with the filibuster -- a rule that requires 60 votes, rather than a simple majority of 50, to advance most legislation -- if the bills could not be advanced another way.

"I've been having these quiet conversations with members of Congress for the last two months," he said Tuesday. "I'm tired of being quiet!"

The president entered the Democratic caucus room to applause shortly after 1 p.m.