Newsweek: Stem Cell Divide:Split Remains

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NEWSWEEK Poll: A possibly revolutionary innovation in stem-cell research hasn’t changed American opinions on the topic. Meanwhile, Bush’s approval rating dips to 36 percent.

The announcement this week sounded momentous. Scientists said they had developed a new method of generating stem cells that, unlike previous techniques, wouldn’t destroy human embryos. If the innovation stands up to scrutiny, it could eliminate the main rationale for objecting to such research. So in the wake of the news, you might think public opinion on the issue would shift. Not so. According to the latest NEWSWEEK Poll, 48 percent of respondents favor federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research, while 40 percent oppose it. That’s little different from the results of an October 2004 poll, taken in the heat of a presidential campaign, which found that 50 percent of registered voters favored the research and 36 percent opposed it.

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Still, it doesn’t appear that stem-cell research is weighing heavily on the minds of voters. Only 17 percent of registered voters would choose candidates based on their positions on issues like stem-cell research and in vitro fertilization. Another 55 percent said such issues were important, but not enough to determine voting preferences. And 22 percent said such issues weren’t important.

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Some potential factors contributing to that slippage: his handling of the economy (with 37 percent approving and 58 percent disapproving) and the situation in Iraq (31 percent vs. 63 percent). Both of these results also approach all-time lows. The only semblance of a silver lining remains his handling of terrorism and homeland security, with 49 percent approving and 45 percent disapproving. But unfortunately for Bush, his approval rating on that issue edged downward as well, from 55 percent in mid-August.

And America’s overall mood remains sour, which could spell trouble for the party in power. Sixty-five percent say they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States and only 28 percent are satisifed. According to the poll, Democratic congressional candidates continue to hold an edge over their Republican rivals, by a 50-38 percent margin. That’s consistent with other NEWSWEEK polls from earlier in the year.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14527419/site/newsweek/