But belying the partisan sniping at the president's Democratic challenger is Hatch's alliance with John Kerry on stem cell research, an issue that has risen in prominence during this presidential race with the death Sunday of actor Christopher Reeve.
Kerry is one of 11 co-sponsors of legislation drafted by Hatch to allow federally funded "therapeutic cloning" of stem cells for research into cures and treatments for a myriad of diseases and injuries. Bush steadfastly opposes the procedure, likens it to abortion and condemns it for potentially creating "human embryo farms."
In June, Hatch, Kerry and more than 50 other senators signed a letter to Bush urging the president to allow more federally funded medical research using existing frozen stem cells. Hatch opposes Bush's current funding restrictions limiting experiments to 78 lines that had been derived when Bush stopped further federal research in August 2001. Only 19 of those lines remain, and Hatch says most of those are contaminated by mouse cells and useless in research.
The timing of Reeve's death in the context of a tight presidential race has put Hatch in the odd position of downplaying the attention now drawn to his legislative crusade to loosen Bush's stem cell restrictions. The Utah Republican issued a statement cautioning that the loss of Reeve should not be exploited for political purposes. At the same time, he expressed hope that Reeve's fight on behalf of stem cell research will end up benefiting others.
"This is one battle that shouldn't be fought along partisan lines," said Hatch. "Some seem to forget that there are many, many others fighting this fight, not just celebrities, but researchers and everyday families."
Kerry charged during Friday night's presidential debate that Bush is "walking a waffle line" by allowing federal funds to be used for the destruction of life in the currently available lines of stem cells but not funding research in additional lines of frozen embryos that are not contaminated.
"We've got to open up the possibilities of this research," said Kerry. "And when I am president, I'm going to do it because we have to."
Said Bush: "I made the decision we wouldn't spend any more [federal] money beyond the 70 lines, 22 of which are now in action because science is important, but so is ethics. So is balancing life."
During the debate, Kerry brought up Reeve and his desire to "want him to walk again." Saturday, the quadriplegic "Superman" star left a message on Kerry's cell phone thanking him for his stand.
His subsequent death Sunday has put more focus on Bush's opposition, and Kerry campaign strategists believe the issue could win votes among Americans who have loved ones or friends suffering from one of the diseases or disabilities that stem cell research could cure.
"This issue has become a voting issue and it transcends ideology and party, " said Kerry senior campaign adviser Tad Devine. "That's why it's such a powerful issue in the context of a general election."
