“It has been something of a wedge issue used against Republicans in the past,” says Barry Burden, a UW-Madison professor of political science. “There are Republicans who are quite supportive of embryonic stem cell research — they see the potential for cures for Alzheimer’s and these other diseases. And then there are others in the pro-life camp of the party who strictly oppose it. This judge’s ruling could be a win-win for Democrats even though it rolled back an Obama policy. They could take quick legislative action to mute the judge’s decision and have another accomplishment to tuck into their hat before the campaign. But even if they don’t do that, this issue allows Democrats to remind some Republicans and independents that they are on the Democrats’ side on this issue.”

Just as Doyle would often invoke his late mother’s battle with Parkinson’s disease while talking about the need for stem cell research, Barrett got personal on the issue in a press briefing after the biotech summit in Middleton. He noted his brother-in-law suffered a spinal cord injury about 20 years ago and has been confined to a wheelchair since then. Barrett repeated his belief that Walker would stop research that holds the potential to one day help his brother-in-law walk again.