SPECTOR: NOT ENOUGH VOTES TO OVERRIDE STEM CELL VETO

Senator Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, who sponsors a bill that would ease restrictions Bush put in place, said Frist gave his side ''a big boost." A vote on the bill could come in September. A bill would pass the Senate with a simple majority, but 67 senators would be needed to fend off a veto by Bush if all 100 senators voted. 'My analysis is that we have 62 votes at the present time, and we've got about 15 more people who are thinking it over," Specter said on CBS's ''Face the Nation." ''I believe that by the time the vote comes up, we'll have 67." But, he admitted that there would not likely be enough votes in the House for an override. The bill passed the House in May by 44 votes, less than the two-thirds of the 435-member House needed to override a veto. But Specter said Frist's endorsement could provide ''a little political cover" for House members to vote to override. (Globe)