By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters] -Democrats in the U.S. Senate are pushing forward with plans to forcibly vote on Wednesday on legislation that codifies women’s right to abortion nationally. A protest gesture nearly certain to fail, ahead of an anticipated Supreme Court decision to terminate those protections.

The majority of Senate Republicans are against abortion, and the slim majority of Democrats will not allow them to overturn the rules that require 60 votes from the 100 to approve most bills. Democrats hope the vote will increase their chances to win seats or get elected in November’s midterm elections.

On Tuesday, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that the vote to preserve abortion rights would shine like a floodlight upon every member of this house.

CNN reported that Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is planning to challenge the legislation with the vote fast approaching. An official for Manchin could not be reached immediately.

It was unlikely that the “Women’s Health Protection Act”, even if Manchin supported it, would be passed by the deeply divided Senate.

While closed-door discussions were still ongoing about a potential compromise bill on abortion rights, it was not clear whether Democratic or Republican negotiators were able to attract the required 60 votes.

America’s long-running battle for abortion rights was reopened last week by the Supreme Court, which confirmed that a draft opinion it had approved is authentic. This means that the Supreme Court will likely overturn 1973 Roe V. Wade decision that allowed abortion to be legalized nationwide.

Recent opinion polls show that the right of abortion is widely supported. Last week, 63% of the respondents to a Reuters/Ipsos survey, which included 78% of Democrats, and 49% respectively, said they would support candidates for November’s election who are pro-abortion rights.

According to Guttmacher Institute (which advocates for reproductive and sexual health rights), at least 26 states would ban abortion if Roe is struck down by the Supreme Court.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell told USA Today last week it was “possible” that a Republican-controlled Senate could seek legislation restricting abortion nationwide in a post-Roe v. Wade world.

McConnell, in a Tuesday press conference, noted that neither Republicans nor Democrats would likely secure 60 votes to pass abortion legislation through Senate.

McConnell stated that “this issue will be addressed at the state level.”

The House of Representatives passed an identical bill on abortion rights last September by 218 votes to 211. It was almost identical to that in the Senate.

Some Democrats feel that the move to reverse Roe would help them win November. It could also strengthen their voter base and attract more women to their cause.

Republicans are counting upon inflation which has driven up the prices of gasoline and food, as well as many other consumer products, to secure victory. This would allow them to rein in Democratic President Joe Biden’s second term.