Susan Davis

USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — A Democratic bill to raise the federal minimum wage failed in a key procedural vote in the Senate on Wednesday. The defeat was expected, but that did not deter President Obama and Senate Democrats who have pledged to make it an issue in the 2014 elections.

Hours after the vote, President Obama lashed out against Republican lawmakers for blocking the legislation, citing polling that shows a majority of Americans support a hike in the minimum wage.

In remarks at the White House, he said Americans shouldn't be deterred by the vote and urged voters to pressure GOP lawmakers to embrace raising the minimum wage, which was increased to $7.25 in 2008."

"If your member of Congress doesn't support raising the minimum wage, you got to let them know they are out of step, and if they keep putting politics ahead of working Americans, you'll put them out of office," Obama said.

Senate Democrats also were quick to use the legislative setback as an opportunity to make their argument for keeping the upper chamber in their hands.

"Today we saw a clear distinction between what we're fighting for, we Democrats, and the Republicans, what they're fighting for. They're fighting for the billionaires. We're fighting for people who are struggling to make a living," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., after the vote.

Democrats needed 60 votes to move forward with legislation that would gradually raise in three phases the hourly federal minimum wage to $10.10. Democrats fell five votes short of the 60 votes necessary to move forward.

"This is not the only time that you will see the Senate vote on the minimum wage bill this year. We'll be back again and again, and we'll keep trying until we get this to the president's desk," said Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, a chief sponsor of the bill.

Republicans oppose the wage hike because they counter it could slow hiring at a time of sluggish job growth, and they contend Democrats are only using the wage bill to seek a political advantage in this year's midterm elections.

The minimum wage increase is part of an economic agenda that Senate Democrats are promoting this year that they say will help boost the middle class. A bill to address pay equity between men and women likewise failed on a procedural vote, and upcoming legislation to promote college affordability and cut tax breaks for wealthy Americans is likely to meet the same fate.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., himself facing a tough re-election race this year, dismissed the Democrats' agenda as one "drafted by campaign staffers" to appeal to the party's base.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., called the wage increase a "stale, bankrupt" idea that could cost jobs, and cited a number of GOP-backed proposals the party says will do more to create jobs, such as reforming federal job-training programs, extending the Keystone XL oil pipeline and approving new trade pacts, among others.

"The issue is right — it's jobs. The American people want it to be easier to find a good-paying job," Alexander said.

The minimum wage bill also faces opposition from House Republicans, who do not intend to bring it to the floor for a vote this year. House Democrats have filed a discharge petition on the bill, which would force a House vote if a majority of the chamber signs the petition.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the second-ranking House Democrat, said 195 Democrats have signed the petition and that they need 23 Republicans to sign on to succeed. So far, no Republican has signed the petition.

"We are going to continue to urge passage of the minimum wage because we think it is critically important," Hoyer said.

Although the Democrats' push for raising the federal minimum wage faces stiff headwinds, Obama noted that progress is being made on the state level as 10 states and the District of Columbia have raised their rates in recent months.

But with polling showing that the issue resonates with voters, Obama made clear that he's not going to give up his push for a federal minimum wage hike.

"My message to the American people is this: Do not get discouraged by a vote like the one we saw this morning," the president said. "Get fired up. Get organized. Make your voices heard. And rest assured, I'm going to keep working with you ... to raise wages for hardworking Americans."

Contributing:Aamer Madhani