Since tie votes in the House mean defeat, the bill would have failed if even one representative or one senator who voted with the President had switched sides.

That senator, Mohammed Ali Ndume, had switched political affiliations to become a member of President Jonathan's own party.

The final tallies were so close that if just one Democratic representative or senator who voted for the bill had switched sides, the bill would have been defeated.

The change, and the decision, outraged Southern coal interests and their senators, who charged that Esch had switched his vote to secure his renomination by Coolidge.

After it was pointed out that the treason laws apply only during wartime, the senators switched to accusing the bankers of "sponsoring economic sanctions against Argentina," a violation of a 1951 law.

But in the intervening time, the only Democratic senator who had voted for Warren switched his vote against him.

Although Senator Hatch said, "We believe men of good will can be turned around," others scoffed at the prospect that any publicly declared senator could switch.

During the roll call, Mr. Kennedy persuaded another Democratic senator, Daniel K. Akaka of Hawaii, to switch his vote, thereby preserving the program.

Two anti-abortion senators switched to the abortion rights side in that vote, the first cloture effort since Saturday.

During the term of the assembly, several senators switched from the AD to the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).