WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday failed to override President George W. Bush's veto of a plan to expand a popular children's health care program and pay for it by raising tobacco taxes.

The vote fell short of the two-thirds needed to overturn a presidential veto, giving Bush a major legislative victory but one that Democrats are likely to use against his Republicans in the 2008 elections.

Democrats, who control Congress, vowed to continue pushing for the expanded program, which would provide health care to about 10 million children in low income families.

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