WASHINGTON (AP) — A political gambit by an endangered Senate Democrat is breaking loose long-stalled legislation to force approval of the Keystone XL pipeline as the lame-duck Congress returns to a Capitol in which the results of last week's GOP blowout are still sinking in.

The move by Louisiana Democrat Mary Landrieu comes as some conservatives are spoiling to drag must-pass spending bills into their battle with President Barack Obama over his planned executive action on immigration, raising at least the possibility of a government shutdown next month or next year.

Landrieu is an underdog to win a fourth term in a runoff next month with Republican congressman Bill Cassidy. She's a supporter of the pipeline but has been unable to win a vote on it, which has been a campaign flash point.

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