MISSOURI VOTES FOR EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH & AGAINST IGNORANCE & SUPERSTITION, Inc.

A Missouri ballot measure to protect embryonic stem cell research won slim voter approval Tuesday, narrowly surviving an opposition campaign that for weeks had eroded the measure’s popularity, according to the Associated Press, which called the measure shortly before 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Donn Rubin, of the Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, said, “We've known for a long time that a large majority of Missourians support stem cell research. Unfortunately, the issue was clouded to a great extent in the last few weeks ... I think that's why the margin of victory was as narrow as it was.”

Rubin said the vote meant Missouri would embrace rather than outlaw stem cell research.