As the Democrat in the “tri-partisan” Graham-Lieberman-Kerry Senate climate bill, Kerry will be responsible for rallying Senate Democrats, especially liberals, to get behind the legislation. It’s expected that some liberals will protest the Senate bill and argue that it doesn’t go far enough to combat climate change. Though many of these opponents will end up voting for the bill anyway, regarding it as a step in the right direction but not the final word, Kerry is in danger of losing support from select lawmakers such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). If Kerry fails to get Sanders or other outliers on board, it will only lead to a more difficult, and louder, debate on the Democratic side. And ultimately, it’s Kerry who is the policy heavyweight in the Senate trio — and the entire nation will be looking to him to craft a bill that’s not only effective, but also politically palatable.