WASHINGTON » Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says an agreement seems at hand that would resolve the chamber’s bitter impasse over stalled Obama administration nominations.

Less than an hour before a scheduled showdown vote over the first nomination, the Nevada Democrat said that he and Republican leaders might have found a compromise.

Reid provided no details. But he said he believed both sides would get what they wanted and added, "That’s not a bad deal."

Reid’s remarks came the morning after nearly the entire Senate held an extraordinary, private session in which members searched for a way past their fight over the nominations.

Reid has been threatening to change Senate rules to prevent Republicans from filibustering the nominations.