Kerry Vows to Lift Bush Restrictions on Stem Cells

[DEMonstate]

LAMAR, Colo. (Reuters) - Democratic challenger John Kerry on Saturday marked the third anniversary of President Bush's restrictions on stem cell research by vowing to lift them for the sake of millions of Americans with debilitating diseases.

"To those who pray each day for cures that are now beyond our reach, I want you to know that help is on the way," Kerry said in remarks taped for his party's weekly radio address in the second week of a cross-country campaign tour with vice-presidential running mate John Edwards.

"Come next January," said Kerry, who hopes to be inaugurated as president at that time, "we're going to create a new anniversary -- one that will be cause for celebration. We're going to lift the ban."

Stem cell research heated up as an election-year issue after the death in June of former President Ronald Reagan, who was stricken with Alzheimer's disease. His son, Ron Reagan, made an emotional plea to expand such research at last month's Democratic National Convention.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=5903067

[aquart]

1. So, does he get Nancy's vote?

[RamboLiberal]

2. LAT report says 1 of 5 Bush voters may switch to Kerry on this issue

The poll found that 64 percent of conservatives said they were likely to support stem cell research in the wake of Reagan's death.

And a Zogby poll for American Demographics conducted late last month found that one out of every five Bush voters would switch to Kerry if he proposed a bold stem cell research program.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-stemcell8aug08,1,5130571.story?coll=la-home-headlines