Arlington, Va. – Actor Michael J. Fox stood on the stage in a packed ballroom, gripping a lectern tightly for support.
As Fox held on, the lectern shook violently.
“I support candidates who support all stem-cell research,” Fox told the crowd of about 1,000. “I’m confident that stem-cell research can improve the lives of millions of people suffering from diseases and disorders.”
The actor, living with Parkinson’s disease, traveled to Virginia and neighboring Maryland last week to endorse Democrats running for U.S. Senate.
Through personal appearances and TV ads, Fox is lending his star power – and the powerful image of his Parkinson’s tremors – to candidates who support embryonic stem-cell research when their opponent does not.
Impact on races
The question of whether tax dollars should pay for embryonic stem-cell research, pushed into the national spotlight by Colorado’s Rep. Diana DeGette and others, has emerged as one of the top-tier issues in congressional races.
The issue is prominent in some of the most important congressional races in the country, those that will help determine which party controls Congress.
Candidates in Missouri, Virginia, Montana, Colorado and other states are highlighting the issue. Democrats view it as a way to cast President Bush and his Republican supporters as out of the mainstream.
Bush earlier this year vetoed DeGette’s legislation that would have allowed expanded federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research, which many conservatives oppose because it involves destroying human embryos.
“There’s no question in my mind, based on our data, that people vote on this issue,” said Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster.
Independent, Republican-leaning women living in the suburbs are among those most likely to vote for candidates who support expansion of stem-cell research, Democratic pollster Celinda Lake said. Democrats believe they can poach those votes.
Republicans disagree, saying people will vote on fighting terrorism, taxes and securing the U.S. border, not stem cells.
“Our opponent has tried to make this an issue,” said Jonathan Tee, spokesman for Rick O’Donnell, the Republican running for the 7th Congressional District House seat being vacated by Republican Bob Beauprez. The Democrat in that race, Ed Perlmutter, has said overturning Bush’s stem-cell veto would be among his priorities.
Tee said O’Donnell backs stem- cell research that doesn’t destroy embryos.
It’s hard to predict how much of an impact stem-cell research will have on Tuesday’s election, said Jennifer Duffy, who analyzes Senate races for the Cook Political Report. “We don’t know because it’s never been an issue like this in an election,” she said. “It’s one more thing that can get a base excited, but I’m not sure it’s a voting issue.”
DeGette, who spent October campaigning for candidates across the country on the stem- cell issue, said she expects Tuesday will show the issue helped Democrats.
Test case in Missouri
Missouri may offer the best test case for whether stem-cell research is an issue the drives voters, Duffy said.
Democratic candidate Claire McCaskill, who is trying to unseat Republican incumbent Jim Talent, has promoted her position supporting embryonic stem-cell research. The state also has a ballot measure offering state constitutional protection to stem-cell research.
Democrats hope the issue will give McCaskill an edge.
In recent days, there has been a get-out-the-vote push by churches and others opposed to the ballot measure. Focus on the Family Action of Colorado Springs is part of that effort.
Fox appeared in an ad asking voters to support McCaskill because of her position on stem cells. That ad triggered criticism from conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who questioned whether Fox’s display of symptoms was genuine.
After Fox’s ad and Limbaugh’s remarks, the McCaskill campaign received about $500,000 in contributions, said spokeswoman Adrienne Marsh.
