ANNAPOLIS — Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. has added momentum to the push for embryonic stem cell research, saying the issue “absolutely“ has a chance to pass the Senate in next year's legislative session.

His comments boost a newly formed coalition that is planning an all-out campaign to get publicly funded embryonic stem cell research approved in the General Assembly next year.

A bill that earmarked more than $20 million for stem cell research sparked a heated debate in the legislature earlier this year. A version of the bill passed the House of Delegates, only to die in the Senate, where a threatened filibuster by a coalition of pro-life Republicans and Democrats prevented it from coming to the floor for an up-or-down vote.

“It absolutely has a chance,“ Miller (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach said in an interview. “It has a chance because of the divisions among Republicans on Capitol Hill and around the country.“

Legislation that would ease restrictions on stem cell research is before Congress, and Miller pointed to U.S. Senate Majority Leader William H. Frist (R-Tenn.) as an example of why a bill could pass in Annapolis next year.

Frist and U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) are going against the wishes of the White House and advocating for an expansion of the research, which advocates claim holds the key to curing debilitating diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's.

At least two prominent conservatives in Annapolis are not convinced that the bill stands a better chance of passing next year. Senate Minority Whip Andrew P. Harris (R-Dist. 7) of Cockeysville and Sen. Alexander X. Mooney (R-Dist. 3) of Frederick — two of the leaders in opposing the bill — said their filibuster coalition is solid.

“I don't think anything has changed,“ Mooney said, echoing Harris.

Embryonic stem cell research promises to be one of the most politically charged and high-profile issues to be discussed in the upcoming legislative session.

“This will be one of the top issues during session because of the national debate that we've had on it, and that the issue is on people's minds,“ said Sushant Sidh, a lobbyist for Capitol Strategies, which is pushing stem cell research. “This issue may turn elections in 2006.“

Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Chairwoman Paula C. Hollinger said her committee would move no other bills until the embryonic stem cell research bill is approved and sent to the Senate floor for consideration. That sets the stage for what could be a long — and bitterly divisive — election-year filibuster by a strong and bipartisan coalition of pro-life senators.

“If there is going to be a filibuster, then they can get it out of their system early,“ said Hollinger (D-Dist. 11) of Pikesville, a registered nurse and a candidate for Congress. “If it takes everything I have, we are going to get this bill past the Senate next year.“

Hollinger issued her challenge at a news conference last week in Annapolis, where former Gov. Harry R. Hughes (D) and others announced a statewide education and advocacy drive. Maryland Families for Stem Cell Research, which is headed by Hughes and two other former governors, is supported by an array of elected officials and top members of the medical and biotechnology community. The group called on Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) to include stem cell research funding in his upcoming budget.

“This research is a matter of life and death. But this is also a call for leadership,“ said Hughes, whose wife of 51 years has Parkinson's disease. “Governor Ehrlich, who has voiced his support for stem cell research, including embryonic stem cell research, can lead our efforts in Maryland.“

Ehrlich spokesman Henry P. Fawell said it is too early to discuss the budget and which programs will be included. The governor is committed to ensuring Maryland remains one of the nation's leaders in biotechnology and medical research, he said.

“Their priorities are his priorities,“ Fawell said.

Proponents were bolstered by personal stories such as that of John Kellermann, a 51-year-old Towson resident with Parkinson's.

“If we can move forward with research in Maryland, I may live to see my son graduate from college and possibly even dance with my two daughters at their weddings one day,“ Kellermann, who attended the news conference with his family, said in a statement.

Opponents, led by the Maryland Catholic Conference, oppose the research on religious and ethical grounds.

“Embryonic stem cells are obtained by killing a living human embryo,“ according to a summary of the issue by Nancy E. Fortier on the Catholic Conference Web site. The document said adult stem cells can be “ethically“ used for medical research by taking them from umbilical cord blood and⁄or bone marrow.

It is unclear whether Hollinger will be able to gather the 29 votes necessary to break a filibuster. During this year's session, a handful of pro-life Democrats refused to abandon their Republican colleagues.