The Senate's failure to move forward on a bill to strengthenU.S. computer defenses leaves little chance that Congress can finda compromise this year, as lawmakers turn their attention toNovember's election.

The chamber's Democratic leadership failed yesterday to get the60 votes needed to force a final vote on the cybersecurity measurebefore the Senate leaves this week for an August recess. The votewas 52-46, largely along party lines, as most Republicans opposed abill their leaders called a burden for businesses.

“As a practical matter, it's probably dead,” Stewart Baker, aformer assistant secretary for policy at the Department of HomelandSecurity, said in an interview. “There's some people hoping againsthope to revive it, but given the calendar and the difficulty of theissues, it would be almost impossible.”