AUGUSTA (AP) – With a final Senate vote on an eastern Maine race track casino pending, Gov. John Baldacci said Thursday he remained committed to vetoing the bill if it lacks the supermajority vote needed to override his objection.

“If it does” surpass the two-thirds majority, “I’ll sign it,” the governor said.

A 21-11 Senate enactment vote Thursday afternoon lacked by a thin margin the support the governor demanded, but the bill was held for one more vote that could have come as early as Thursday night.

The previous night, the House voted 97-48 to give final approval to the racino measure, barely a two-thirds majority. Supermajorities in both the House and Senate would be needed to override a gubernatorial veto.

The bill, which would allow up to 1,500 slot machines at a harness racing facility Down East, is seen by the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe as an economic development measure. The bill includes a provision to let voters have the final word on the racino plan.

Last week, Baldacci vetoed a similar bill that did not have a referendum provision, saying he preferred alternate means of economic development for the region. The votes on the newer proposal were being closely watched because two-thirds majorities would be needed to override another veto.

While lobbying went on Thursday in anticipation of the Senate vote, various scenarios played out in State House discussions, including one in which the racino referendum could be delayed until November 2006 so it will not appear on the ballot with a people’s veto referendum on Maine’s gay rights law.

Some supporters of the newly enacted gay rights measure fear that chances of having voters uphold the law would be weakened by having the racino question also on the ballot. The Passamaquoddy representative said his side has no interest in postponing the racino question.

“The two are totally unrelated. The notion of bumping one off (the ballot) because of another is unfortunate,” said Rep. Frederick Moore III, the Passamaquoddy tribal representative. The racino question “needs to go out to voters,” he added.

Baldacci said the pending state budget is drawing most of his attention now and he’s not engaged in racino discussions for the time being.

“I’ll deal with it when it gets here,” the governor said.

A voter-approved racino is already taking shape in Bangor.