With the Iowa Caucuses two days out, a Des Moines Register Poll reports the following:

• Mike Huckabee - 32%
• Mitt Romney - 26%
• John McCain - 13%
• Ron Paul - 9%
• Fred Thompson - 9%
• Rudy Giuliani - 5%

A Suffolk University poll is reporting the following for New Hampshire:

• John McCain - 31%
• Mitt Romney - 25%
• Rudy Giuliani - 14%
• Mike Huckabee - 9%
• Ron Paul - 6%
• Fred Thompson - 2%

The big story of the appointment of Rep. Roger Wicker to fill Trent Lott’s seat is the shift that this creates on federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research.  Lott was a supporter of federal funding for ESCR while Wicker opposed it.

So why does that matter?  Last year, President Bush vetoed federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research.  The Senate failed to override the veto by a single vote.  Wicker’s appointment creates a small margin for error in the event that Sen. Bob Casey goes wobbly this year.

Looking at the elections this year, Mark Warner will replace John Warner, which is a wash, as the latter supported the funding as well.  Jeanne Shaheen is favored against Sen. John Sununu and Rep. Tom Udall is favored to take over the seat being vacated by Sen. Pete Domenici.  If we can hold Colorado and defeat Mary Landrieu, it would mean that there would be 34 votes against the unethical research, just enough to uphold a veto should Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, or Mike Huckabee occupy the White House.