By Alex Wayne

CELL DIVISION: Candidates might be as close as they seem on the issue. (GETTY IMAGES / SANDY HUFFAKER)

Both presidential candidates appear to support federal funding of stem cell research, and for that reason the issue hasn’t come up much in the fall campaign. The only time it was mentioned in any of their three debates was last week, when  John McCain criticized  Barack Obama  for running television commercials saying McCain opposes “federal funding for stem cell research.”

“I don’t,” the Republican said flatly.

Indeed, in April 2007, both senators voted for a bill that would have negated President Bush’s 2001 order that limits federal funding for embryonic stem cell research to cell lines that had already been created. Researchers in the field say the science holds the promise to cure a host of maladies, ranging from cancer to diabetes, but their work has been stalled in the United States for seven years by Bush’s order.

The outgoing president opposes the research because the creation of cell lines generally requires the destruction of human embryos, a process many conservatives liken to abortion. He vetoed the bill once the House cleared it in June 2007, and there was no override attempt, mainly because an override drive fell well short the year before, when Bush vetoed a similar measure.

Some strong supporters of stem cell research, though, worry that McCain might not agree with them as much as his record suggests. Indeed, in his comments during the debate at Hofstra University, McCain might have left himself some maneuvering room: Many people who oppose embryonic stem cell research nonetheless support federal funding for other kinds of research that don’t require cells to be harvested from human embryos.

Last week, two of the principal House supporters of expanding stem cell research, Democrat Diana DeGette of Colorado and Republican Michael N. Castle of Delaware, sent letters to the presidential campaigns reaffirming that they expect that as president either McCain or Obama would loosen federal restrictions on the research.

DeGette is particularly suspicious that McCain has become closer to social conservatives on the issue. His running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, firmly opposes embryonic stem cell research, and the party platform calls for an expansion of support for stem cell research “without the destruction of embryonic human life.”

“Both Mike Castle and I are concerned that John McCain is really parsing his words,” DeGette said. “He is a McCain supporter, and he’s worried that Sen. McCain would not aggressively support all types of stem cell research as president.”

Castle said that overstates his concern about McCain. “I would be more concerned about his vice presidential candidate, who may be more opposed to this and could have some influence in that area,” he said.

DeGette says Obama has promised her he would reverse Bush’s order, and that Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California has promised her that a bill expanding support for embryonic stem cell research will be among the first orders of House business next year. The measure, DeGette said, would also create a stronger ethics review process for all types of cell research.