McCain derides Obama's "cheerleading, ridiculing" remarks on "fiscal cliff" McConnell: Senate "very, very close" to a "fiscal cliff" agreement Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., today injected some optimism into the 11th hour of "fiscal cliff" negotiations, stating his work with Vice President Biden has been successful, and the Senate is "very, very close" to a deal.