“StemPAC – a national grassroots movement in support of stem cell research – today formally congratulated Senator Jon Corzine on his victory in yesterday’s race for governor of New Jersey. The group also hailed the race as a watershed event – one which proved that stem cell research was a ‘winning issue’ – and cited evidence to back up its claim.” Via StemPac & Memes.org
StemPAC Congratulates Jon Corzine on Victory; Cites Evidence Proving Stem Cell Research a “Winning Issue???
StemPAC – a national grassroots movement in support of stem cell research – today formally congratulated Senator Jon Corzine on his victory in yesterday’s race for governor of New Jersey. The group also hailed the race as a watershed event – one which proved that stem cell research was a “winning issue??? – and cited evidence to back up its claim.
“Throughout Jon Corzine’s campaign, no other issue was more prominent than stem cell research,??? said John Hlinko, political consultant with Grassroots Enterprise, and founder of StemPAC. “We salute Governor-elect Corzine for his leadership on this issue, and for providing a powerful example for other candidates that stem cell research is a winning issue.???
StemPAC cited the following points showing that stem cell research was key to this victory:
- The single most notable TV ad the Corzine campaign ran was on the subject of stem cell research (featuring Carl Riccio, a paralyzed young man who urged support for Corzine and stem cell research).
- Corzine’s poll numbers went up during the time that that ad ran and dominated the news cycle (October 25-31). A Quinnipac poll released on October 19th showed Corzine with a 7 point lead. The same poll released on November 2nd showed Corzine with a 12-point lead.
- Stem cell entries on Corzine’s blog generated the most comments – by far – showing the power of this issue to charge supporters.
- Predictive political trading markets, such as Intrade and Tradesports, also showed a big spike in expectations for a Corzine victory during the period the Riccio ad ran.
StemPAC also cited key evidence that the potency of stem cell research as a winning issue had grown throughout America, and not just in New Jersey. According to a July, 2005 study by the Pew Research Center:
- 90% of Americans had heard either “a lot??? or “a little??? about stem cell research;
- The 48% who said “a lot??? was nearly double number in May, 2002 (27%);
- When asked whether it was more important to “conduct research??? or “not destroy embryos,??? the split in favor of research was 57% to 30% (as opposed to 43/38 in May, 2002)
- Among those who had heard “a lot??? about stem cell research, the split was 68% to 25% in favor of “conduct research.???
- Among critical swing voters who self identify as “independents,??? the percentage favoring “conduct research??? has grown from 49% to 66% in that same period.
“The numbers make it clear – for Democrats and Republicans alike, stem cell research is a winning issue,??? said Hlinko. “And for those who take the time to educate the voters, stem cell research can be THE winning issue.???
(see www.StemPAC.com for evidence, and more on the Pew Research Center study)
About StemPAC
Launched in early July, 2005, StemPAC has already become one of the highest trafficked web sites in support of stem cell research, and has delivered tens of thousands of letters to Congress and the President on the issue. It recently gained widespread attention by producing a television advertisement to air in New Hampshire – site of the nation’s first presidential primary – urging Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to break with President Bush and support HR 810. Just days after the ad was announced, Senator Frist announced his support for the bill.
For more information, please see www.stempac.com
