STEM CELL QUESTION FOR KERRY: He invokes Nancy Reagan. (Notice how many Republicans he’s mentioning? Reagan, Eisenhower, McCain, etc.)

Interestingly, though, he takes a question about science — adult stem cells work — and turns it into a question on morality.

Nonetheless, it’s his strongest bit yet, though he overstates Bush’s “ban.”

Bush: Embryonic stem cell research requires the destruction of life to create a stem cell. I’m the first President to fund it. (Huh? Bad transition here, I think. . . ) His delivery is good, though: Science is good, but so is ethics. Still, he’s in a tough position, looking like a straddler compared to Kerry.

Kerry: Pounces: Hits Bush here for waffling. He’s got him on this one, I think. Bush is trying to be nuanced.

Bush: My embryos had already been destroyed. I made the decision to balance science and ethics.

Watching both of them, stem cell research must be polling well.