By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Top U.S. Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer on Thursday said he would vote to advance a Republican stopgap funding bill, signaling that his party would provide the votes to avert a government shutdown.

Veteran Democrats privately believed Chuck Schumer’s decision on the shutdown was inevitable. Others were ready for the top Senate Democrat to lead them into their first big battle against President Donald Trump — and instead have been left fuming.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said Thursday evening he will vote to advance the GOP spending bill to prevent the federal government from shutting down by the end of Friday, backing off his previous opposition to the bill.