The vote, 59 to 39, was on an amendment to an emergency spending measure and was cast on a day of difficult choices for Republicans. They passed up opportunities to strip the bill of provisions unrelated to its primary purpose of paying for hurricane relief and military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The action was unusual because Republicans have been adamant that the war is the highest priority and have been quick to attack Democrats who show signs of wavering on the issue. Three Republicans voted against the shift in money, seven Democrats voted for it and two Democrats did not vote.

With Mr. Bush promising to veto the $106.5 billion spending measure unless it is pared to less than $95 billion, senators who wanted to improve border security, a cause that grassroots conservatives have declared a main goal this election year, felt they had to do so without letting the underlying bill expand.

"This bill is about national defense, especially relative to terrorism," said Senator Judd Gregg, the New Hampshire Republican who is the amendment's lead sponsor. "And, yes, fighting the war in Iraq is critical to this war on terrorism. Fighting the war in Afghanistan is critical to this war on terrorism. But I have to think equally important is making sure that our borders are secure."

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