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Michael J. Fox praises Doyle over stem cell research in new ad By RYAN J. FOLEY MADISON, Wis. - Michael J. Fox praises Gov. Jim Doyle's support for stem cell research in a new campaign ad, saying medical cures from Wisconsin could help those suffering from disease such as himself. The actor afflicted with Parkinson's disease puts a face on one of Doyle's top campaign themes, urging voters to re-elect the Democrat and painting Republican opponent U.S. Rep. Mark Green as a foe of research that could save lives. ADVERTISEMENT "What you decide can affect millions of people _ like me, like your family," says Fox, who looks directly into the camera as his head and body move as a result of his condition. "Please, re-elect Gov. Doyle. For all of us." The ad is the third Fox has recorded on behalf of candidates who support embryonic stem cell research but the first in a governor's race, said John Rogers, a political adviser to Fox and leader of Stem Cell Champions for Doyle. Green said the ad was another dishonest attack leveled against him by Doyle. "His latest ad, which is part of a national smear campaign by Democrats, flat out lies about my record on stem cell research," Green said in a statement. "However, using a celebrity to further Jim Doyle's false attacks does not make them any more true." The ad could appeal to moderate Republicans and independent voters who will determine the election, said Joe Heim, a professor of political science at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Green and Doyle are locked in a tight race. "I'd say that ad packs an emotional punch," he said. "Having a Hollywood personality supporting a candidate in Wisconsin is unusual. It is going to get attention. Plus, he's a known character." Fox is a leading supporter of research using embryonic stem cells, which hold great promise because they can grow into every type of cell in the human body. But some conservatives oppose the research because days-old human embryos are destroyed. Research supporters say the embryos leftover at fertility clinics would be discarded anyway so it's justified to use them for research. The issue has been prominent here because University of Wisconsin scientists have been pioneers in the field. In the ad, Fox says, "The cures we're looking for may come from here." Green has supported President Bush's 2001 policy of restricting federal research funding to those stem cell lines already in existence. He voted this summer to uphold Bush's veto of a bill that would have expanded federal funding for the work. Fox says Green's votes "have set us back." Green noted that he supported federal funding for existing embryonic stem cell lines, including those discovered at UW-Madison. Green also reiterated his plan to spend $25 million on a research technique in which the cells are extracted but embryos are left in tact. Green says the technology could remove the ethical concerns surrounding the research. Doyle has strongly supported an expansion of embryonic stem cell research and promised to veto bills restricting it. One of his achievements has been helping find state and private money for the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, research centers at UW-Madison. Fox appeared with Doyle in Madison last year to back those plans. Doyle also vetoed a bill prohibiting scientists from cloning embryos for research purposes last year, saying it would hinder stem cell research. Green said he would have signed the bill approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The 30-second Fox ad will hit the airwaves Wednesday in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Wausau, said Doyle campaign spokesman Anson Kaye. Fox, known for his work on television shows "Family Ties" and "Spin City" and the "Back to the Future" movies, has also recorded ads for Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in Missouri and Maryland. "From Michael's perspective, he's a single issue kind of guy and that issue is stem cells," Rogers said. "Given the fact that this is a very much a focus on the campaign, he wanted to lend his support to the governor." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn