GOP split over stem cells could resonate

Republican presidential hopefuls split on the scope of federal involvement in embryonic stem cell research, reflecting a GOP rift on an issue that could have political consequences in this year's midterm elections and in 2008.

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Bush, congressional candidates and presidential hopefuls who oppose the bill could end up scoring points with those dissatisfied voters. But the president and his followers also risk alienating many Americans — and a chunk of their rank-and-file — who support stem cell research using human embryos.

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Recent Gallup polls show that a majority of Americans say such research is morally acceptable and support federal funding for it. Polls found Republicans more conflicted, with just 51 percent calling embryonic stem cell research morally acceptable and only four in 10 favoring federal funding of such research.

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Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., accused GOP leaders of staging those two "meaningless" votes simply to provide political cover for Bush and Sen. Rick Santorum (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., a conservative who is considered one of the most vulnerable incumbents.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060719/ap_on_go_co/stem_cells_politics

republicans have no where to hide from themselves.