Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is scheduled to visit New Hampshire to talk about healthcare on Thursday. But earlier this week his campaign took a different tack.
New Hampshire Democrats slammed President Bush's policy restricting federal grants for embryonic stem cell research. Scientists say this growing field could help develop cures and treatments. And Kerry's campaign is trying to make stem cells an issue in the presidential campaign.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Raquel Maria Dillon examines why.
In 2001, President Bush decided to restrict federally-funded embryonic stem cell research to a few dozen existing cell lines. Many scientists say stem cells could replace cells lost or damaged by diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s and treat spinal cord and brain injuries. Many religious conservatives oppose embryonic stem cells research because harvesting them requires the destruction of human embryos left-over from fertility treatments.
Last month at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, the issue took center-stage. The Democrats brought out Ron Reagan Jr., the son of a Republican hero former President Ronald Reagan, who was adamantly pro-life.
REAGAN :18 It does not follow that the theology of a few should be allowed to forstall the health and wellbeing of the many. APPLAUSE And how can we affirm life if we abandon those whose own lives are so desperately at risk.
Earlier this week, the Kerry campaign brought its criticism of the Bush Administrations stem cell policies to Manchester's Elliot Hospital. M-I-T professor Robert Horvitz made the case for repealing the restrictions as soon as possible
HORVITZ :07 I believe Millions of lives could be improved or saved, if we start now.
Horvitz says the current restrictions are hampering scientific progress. The Bush Administration has banned federal funding for any research on the newer, more diverse lines of stem cells, that privately-funded researchers have developed. And Horvitz argues that federal grants are essential if basic research is going to continue.
HORVITZ :18 GWB has not been a supporter of science. His opposition to federally funded embryonic stem cell research is only one of many examples of his lack of belief in and support for science.
The Democrats brought out a doctor who talked about his daughter's diabetes and Ann McLane Kuster who described her mother's advanced Alzheimer's.
ANN :20 I'm a little emotional. This is an emotional issue. It's about our future, our children, our parents. We can't let ideological administration in power decide our future!
McLane Kuster talked about the heartbreak of watching her mother's decline and the cost of treating her at a nursing home. About 20-thousand people in NH suffer from Alzheimer's and as baby boomers age, the disease will undoubtedly touch more people.
The scientific argument and the emotional one are part of Senator Kerry's pitch to undecided voters. But stem cell research raises ethical issues, as voters weigh scientific promise against beliefs about the beginnings of life. State Representative Rogers Johnson says the Bush Administration's the current policy reflects Americans' conflicting views about embryonic stem cell research.
JOHNSON :13 there is ethical issue that needs to be discussed, that hasn't been discussed at this point. … It's somewhat disconcerting to see Kerry Edwards campaign use stem cells for purely political gain.
Many polls show that most Americans back stem cell research for its medical potential. But this issue is not at the top of most voters' lists. University of New Hampshire pollster Andy Smith says voters are more concerned about the economy, the war in Iraq, and terrorism.
SMITH :11 issues like stem cell research and abortion and gun control and some other hot button issues just don't come up as most imp issues that people are voting on this election.
Smith says the Democrats are talking about stem cells to take the moral high ground away from Republicans.
SMITH :20 I think what the Democrats are trying to do with issue is to paint R's opposition to it, and the R's prolife stance in general, as some thing that is a little bit out of step with the rest of country. Make it seem like R's on this issue are being anti-scientific or kinda Luddite.
And given the complexity of stem cell research, the Republicans might have a difficult time defining their position – allowing some kinds of stem cell research, but not others. Smith says voters are likely to get bogged down in the details of the Republican response.
SMITH 57 it's one of the things that's imp to talk about now in summertime when people aren't thinking about politics that much. When we get closer to election we won't see as much emphasis placed on this, except possibly in the debates. It might be a good debating point.
But since stem cell research is not a make or break issue for most voters. Smith says Democrats should exploit the parties' differences now.
For NHPR News, I'm RMD.
