On Politics / David Postman
Abortion issue showing up in campaign in new garb

By David Postman
Chief political Reporter

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Specifically, she was touting the jobs that could be created if the state were the leader in stem-cell research and the good that would come from it in fighting disease.

In front of a roomful of business lobbyists, she had found a way to turn abortion into an economic-development question.

Given Democrats' belief that voters will be turned off by Republican Dino Rossi's opposition to legal abortion, I'm sure it's not the last time we'll see abortion gussied up to fit the occasion. That's especially true after seeing Rossi's reluctance to state a clear position on the question.

To be precise, the question is about his stand on federal funding of stem-cell research. The Bush administration limits the use of federal money for stem-cell research. That position is supported by many abortion opponents who say taking embryonic cells for research is too similar to abortion.

What's clear to abortion-rights supporters and opponents — including both gubernatorial campaigns, if not the business lobbyists at the Association of Washington Business debate — is that a politician's stance on stem cells is fast becoming a surrogate litmus test on the abortion issue.

"It certainly has gotten closely tied to our issue," said Blythe Chandler, communications director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington. "I do think many people are aware of that, and it is a way of sort of identifying your position on this issue."

Gregoire supports legal abortion and gets major financial support from pro-choice groups. Rossi opposes it. The Democrats clearly want to talk about it more than Rossi does.

It came up in the debate at the Association of Washington Business when candidates had the chance to question each other. Gregoire asked Rossi if he would support her plan for a Stem Cell Research Institute in the state and challenge the administration on its stem-cell policy.

She talked about the jobs that would be created but said most important were the advances that could be made in disease research.

"Do not let some philosophical differences get in the way of finding a cure," Gregoire said, quoting Ron Reagan on the issue.
 
Rossi's answer avoided giving his position on the Bush policy.

"Stem-cell research is already legal in the state of Washington," he said. Besides, he added, California already dominates that research field, and he said he didn't want to "compete with California with Washington state dollars."

He questioned where she'd get the money to fund her biotech development plans. But he didn't say what he thought of the Bush policy. No better answer was available in following up with his campaign staff.

In talking to staffers at both campaigns yesterday, there is agreement only that stem-cell-research funding is a surrogate for talking about abortion. If only there could have been a way for someone to clue in the voters.

David Postman: 360-943-9882 or dpostman@seattletimes.com