Even some Republican supporters of the measure bristled at the Democratic decision to hold the vote less than 24 hours after unveiling the revised measure, and with several lawmakers away from the Capitol because of wildfires that have caused deaths and widespread destruction in California.

"Bringing the bill up today, with no time to even read it, is either a terrible mistake or an intentional partisan maneuver," said Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., who supported the vetoed bill.

Rep. Thelma Drake, R-Va., was considerably more pointed. In an interview, she said she had told Hoyer in a closed-door meeting that it appeared Democrats would not postpone the vote "because the ads had already been bought. That was the only thing that made sense to me."

She added that she reminded Hoyer that Democrats delayed an override vote on Bush's earlier veto for two weeks while she and other Republicans were attacked in television commercials.

In response, Hoyer's spokeswoman, Stacey Bernards, said: "This vote is about providing health care coverage for 10 million children and has nothing to do with when independent advocacy groups decide to schedule ads. That accusation is completely ridiculous and more evidence of some Republicans looking for any excuse to vote against this bipartisan bill."

Brad Woodhouse, head of Americans United for Change, which supports the legislation, said commercials are running in the districts of a few Republicans who opposed the earlier measure. He said more were planned — depending on the outcome of the vote — and that Drake was on the target list.

"We're in a veto override fight now and we're ready for it," he said.

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Contributing: James Thalman, Deseret Morning News