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GOP hopefuls in Iowa push issues of abortion, stem-cell research funding

M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 19, 2007 at midnight

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MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa - Seven smiling visitors trekked to the local community center Tuesday night to pitch their favorite presidential candidates to the Marshall County Republican Central Committee.

Many testimonials won nods of approval, but only one drew a chorus of "amen."

It came when a young surrogate for Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., touted his boss' long- standing opposition to abortion and expanded federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research.

"If we don't have a right to life, none of this other stuff matters," said Don Bailey, 57, an uncommitted Marshalltown Republican who liked what he heard.

By Wednesday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court had released its opinion upholding the ban on so-called "partial-birth," or late-term, abortions. That thrust one of the Republican party's most potent rallying points back into the national headlines.

Most GOP contenders, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, released statements praising the Supreme Court's ruling.

But the issue remains a potential wedge in the Republican field because Giuliani supports abortion rights in general, and rival campaigns question the commitment of McCain and Romney.

Meanwhile, second-tier Republican candidates are trying to gain traction on the issue of embryonic stem-cell research, which critics equate to the destruction of nascent human life.

The lead congressional backer of expanded research, Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, said she believes the issue has growing support in the public. But she concedes opposition remains.

"In the Republican Party, activists tend to be rabid, anti-stem cell factions," DeGette said.

McCain has twice voted to expand federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research. Giuliani's campaign has said he supports research but also wants to be "respectful of human life." Romney supports research on embryos being discarded from fertility clinics, but opposes federal funding.

Candidates such as Brownback may have a rallying point in Iowa, where the state legislature earlier this year narrowly passed legislation easing state restrictions on embryonic research.

McCain spokesman Danny Diaz said Iowa voters will judge candidates based on the "totality of their record" and not just for the stem-cell issue.

"Sen. McCain has a 25 year pro-life voting record and will continue to communicate his common sense conservative message in the state," Diaz said.

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