Although it has won strong support from Augusta lawmakers, a plan for a racetrack casino in Washington County faced an uncertain future Thursday after falling one vote shy in the Senate of the supermajority demanded by Gov. John Baldacci to fend off his looming veto.

The Senate vote of 21-11 in favor of LD 1690, while technically a victory, could signal the narrowest of defeats for its supporters if a final Senate vote – likely coming this morning – doesn’t elicit the two-thirds majority.

“If it does” surpass the two-thirds majority, “I’ll sign it,” the governor said.

The bill would allow, pending approval at a statewide referendum in November, the Passamaquoddy Tribe to open a new harness racing track with 1,500 slot machines on or near its reservations near Calais and Eastport.

On Tuesday, the House voted 97-48 in support of the plan, satisfying Baldacci’s call for a two-thirds majority – albeit a bare one.

Last week, Baldacci vetoed a similar bill that did not have the referendum provision, saying he preferred other economic development strategies for the struggling county, the poorest in Maine.

Sen. Kevin Raye, R-Perry, said Thursday night he and the Passamaquoddy held out hope for a stronger vote in the Senate, crediting their Down East roots.

“Between the tribes and Washington County, the one thing we have is perseverance,” Raye said. “It has been bred into us, and we’re just keeping up the battle.”

The plan’s tumultuous journey through the State House has kept lobbyists a fixture in the halls, where they have played out several scenarios for the bill’s fate.

Supporters of the state’s newly enacted gay rights law have expressed their concerns to lawmakers about the slots plan potentially sharing the November 2005 ballot with a people’s veto referendum on the gay rights measure.

“[There should be only] one issue on the ballot so as not to confuse voters while they are upholding our civil rights,” said Maine Won’t Discriminate spokesman Jesse Connolly, although stressing the group has no position on the “racino” project itself.

Some have suggested the slots question be moved to the June 2006 ballot so as not to encourage a large turnout of conservative voters in November who are likely to oppose both measures.

Passamaquoddy Rep. Fred Moore, sponsor of LD 1690, said he has no interest in postponing the slots vote.

“The two are totally unrelated,” Moore said. “The notion of bumping one off [the ballot] because of another is unfortunate.”

But Michael Heath, director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, said Thursday that while he hoped the gambling question didn’t make the ballot, it could bolster his group’s effort to repeal the gay rights law.

“It would just make it all the better for us,” Heath said.

Moore’s bill is modeled on state law allowing slots in Bangor, where plans for a racino already are taking shape.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.