Daunted by the prospect of a long debate and a veto promise by President Bush, advocates say a bill that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) power to regulate tobacco products is unlikely to pass this year, the Associated Press reported Sept. 10.

The bill was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and has the support of a majority of the Senate. But time is running out in the current legislative session as the federal elections draw closer. A spokesperson for key legislative backer Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) said the measure faces an uphill fight to passage this year.

However, William V. Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said passage is "inevitable." Unlike Bush, both GOP presidential candidate John McCain and Democrat nominee Barack Obama support FDA regulation.