The Kerry campaign has needlessly distorted the stem cell issue — there is no “far-reaching ban on stem cell research” as this official campaign press release claims. Private companies are free to conduct whatever research they wish using stem cells, just not with federal funds. Still, the bottom line political lesson here is that Americans strongly support medical research that they believe could someday help them or their loved ones. After November, Bush and his supporters may have plenty of time to reflect on this fact.
I tend to doubt that stem cells will swing the election. On the other hand, the Democrats seem to feel otherwise.
UPDATE: Here’s a link-filled roundup of stem cell news.