Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) admitted Wednesday that his background check amendment did not have the votes for passage, and said in a television appearance that the National Rifle Association was lying about his bill.

“We will not get the votes today,” Manchin told NBC News. That was a big admission for the West Virginia senator, who had been pushing an amendment to strengthen background checks with Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said nine amendments to the gun bill will receive votes starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday. According to a Huffington Post whip count, the bill had 52 yes votes, 40 no votes and eight undecided.

Toomey also admitted Wednesday morning to National Review that the measure did not have the votes, but said there was a “narrow path” to get to 60.

Yet Manchin’s office seemed to remain hopeful in a Wednesday statement.

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