Cloture vote on Patriot Act fails

With 60 votes needed to cut off debate, the Senate vote was 52-47.

A major victory for Russ Feingold & Co.

AP reports:

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate on Friday rejected attempts to reauthorize several provisions of the USA Patriot Act as infringing too much on Americans' privacy, dealing a major defeat to President Bush and Republican leaders.

In a crucial vote Friday morning as Congress raced toward adjournment, the bill's Senate supporters were not able to garner the 60 votes necessary to overcome a threatened filibuster by Sens. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and their allies. The final vote was 52-47

Earlier story: Feingold now has numbers on his side.