WASHINGTON – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), in an abrupt election-year shift in strategy, opened the possibility on Tuesday of allowing a vote on congressional approval of the long-delayed Keystone XL oil pipeline, according to a Reuters report.

"I'm open to anything that will move energy efficiency," Reid, a long-time foe of the project, told reporters.

He was referring to a bill, sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH), that would save energy through tougher building codes, which the Senate is expected to consider as early as next week.

Details were unclear, but in exchange for Republicans supporting the efficiency bill, Reid could permit a vote on a measure that would allow Congress to approve the bill of the pipeline. The vote could allow Democratic senators facing tough elections in November to be seen as supporting the project.

But even if the bill passes the Senate and a similar bill passes in the House of Representatives, it is likely that President Barack Obama would veto it.

The Obama administration has been considering the pipeline for more than five years. Earlier this month, the State Department said it would again delay a decision on the pipeline until the Nebraska Supreme Court settles a dispute over the path of the pipeline, effectively delaying the decision until after the November 4 elections.