A vote on the embryonic-stem cell research bill is due today in the House, and is expected to pass, but not by a veto-proof margin.

As a result, said Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, House embryonic stem cell research proponents have gained only about a dozen votes.

If every House member votes, it takes 290 votes to override a veto. Support reached a high-water mark of 238 in the prior GOP-controlled House.

"It will be difficult to get to 290 votes, but we’re gaining on it," DeGette said.

Senate proponents of the research claim they now have enough votes to override a veto, but Johnson said that would require at least one senator who voted against it last year to change his or her vote.

Both the House and Senate have to override a veto for a bill to become law without a president’s signature.

DeGette made her remarks at a news conference where she was surrounded by Democratic freshman who said the issue resonated in their campaigns. One of them, Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., opposes abortion but said he would vote for the bill.

"I’ve seen the promise" of embryonic stem cell research, Altmire (a Catholic) said. "There’s no doubt in my mind that a vote for embryonic stem cell research is a pro-life vote."

When a bill comes to the Senate, how will Bob Casey vote? This Chicago columnist explores:

Some of the strongest opposition to the measure, though, has come in Specter’s own backyard. Former Sen. Rick Santorum helped lead the charge against funding for embryonic stem cell research. Casey, his successor, is not as outspoken in his opposition but plans to vote against it, according to spokesman Larry Smar.

”He has been pretty clear about it,” Smar said. ”It came up throughout the campaign, and that is where he is at.  He is going to push for robust research that doesn’t involve the destruction of embryos.”