By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) _ A bipartisan immigration bill narrowly survived a potentially fatal challenge on Wednesday when the Senate turned back a Republican bid to limit the illegal immigrants who could gain lawful status. The close vote on a proposal by Sen. John Cornyn , R-Texas, to bar felons _ including those court-ordered to be deported _ from legalization reflected the delicate position of the contentious immigration bill, which remains under threat from the right and the left. The vote was 51-46 against the amendment. Democrats succeeded in sucking support from Cornyn ‘s proposal by winning adoption of a rival version that would bar a more limited set of criminals, including certain gang members and sex offenders, from gaining legalization. The Senate backed that amendment 66-32. Cornyn had painted his effort as a key vote for any presidential candidate _ a sign of the degree to which the contentious debate is bleeding over into the GOP campaign fray. The amendment “is a defining issue for those who seek the highest office in the land to demonstrate their respect for the rule of law and to demonstrate their desire to return law and order to our immigration system,” Cornyn said.

Here’s the roll.