WASHINGTON (AP) – Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman broke with GOP leadership Monday, voting with Democrats to move forward with debate on a resolution critical of President Bush’s plan to send more troops to Iraq.

Coleman and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine were the only two Republicans to do so, part of a 49-47 majority that fell 11 votes short of the 60 needed to break a filibuster. That prevented a vote on a nonbinding measure backed by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., expressing disagreement with Bush’s plan to deploy an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq.

“I voted to move the Warner resolution forward in order to bring this important issue to the Senate floor for a vote,” Coleman said in a brief statement. “While today’s vote failed, I remain optimistic that a way forward will be found that allows the Senate to vote on the various resolutions proposed by my colleagues.”

Collins, meanwhile, said that since visiting Iraq in December, she’s been convinced that it would be a mistake to send more troops there.

“I believe that this is one of the most important issues facing our nation and that it is important for the Senate to go on record in opposition to the president’s plan,” she said in a statement. “It is my hope that the leadership will soon work out an agreement that will allow us to have a vote as soon as possible.”

Brad Woodhouse, a spokesman for Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, praised Coleman and Collins for their votes, but suggested politics was a factor.

“Clearly, Republicans had enough votes to filibuster the bill and stand with the president in favor of escalating the war in Iraq,” he said in a telephone interview. “It’s not surprising they let a couple of senators who face tough re-election campaigns in 2008 off the hook and vote the other way. We appreciate them voting with this, and we hope they voted their heart.”

He said he didn’t think it was a coincidence that two Republicans who are considered vulnerable next year went the other way.

“Senator Collins has opposed a surge since she went to Iraq in December – well before this proposal was issued and the resolution debate began,” responded Collins’ spokeswoman Jen Burita. “The senator wants the Senate to vote on the resolution that she co-authored.”

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Fred Frommer can be reached at ffrommer(at)ap.org