Washington, Feb 7: Democrat Senators have gathered 60 votes with the help of two Republican counterparts, needed to advance to a final vote on President Barcak Obama's economic stimulus plan, which includes about 811 billion dollars in spending and tax cuts.

Senators Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Susan Collins of Maine appeared to be the critical Republicans to sign onto the bill, giving Democrats enough votes to move it forward.

Democrats also voiced confidence that Republican Senator Olympia Snow of Maine would vote for the plan.

It isn't certain when a vote would come, but sources indicate Sunday is a likely bet, FOX News reported.

Republican leaders still worry the bill contains too much spending on programs that won't stimulate the economy, with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell saying on Friday night on the floor of the Senate that "the big spending programs of the New Deal did not work."

Obama is pushing for the massive spending plan to jump-start the economy, which otherwise, he says, could be headed for "catastrophe."

Specter said that action was "very necessary," and this bill, though not perfect, is better than inaction.

"I think no one could argue with the fact that the situation would be much worse without this bill," Specter said on Friday.

The president has taken an increasingly public approach to advocating the bill's passage, sitting for TV interviews early this week and planning trips to Indian and Florida next week to promote the measure. Polls suggest taxpayers are skeptical about the effectiveness of the plan. (ANI)