The treaty has been signed by 154 nations but ratified by only 51. The conservative bloc in the Senate gave no credence to an international conference in Vienna, Austria, last week that urged signatories to ratify the treaty. Democrats have pushed for action on the treaty, but it was held up by Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., in the Foreign Relations Committee for two years. When it became clear that the Republicans could defeat the treaty, Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., called for the vote in spite of Clinton's belated pledge that the issue would not be raised again in this Congress. The Democrats say they will make this defeat a campaign issue.
Polls show there is strong popular support for ratification.