Mike Castle’s office is trying to downplay the Chris Smith cord-blood bill as an alternative to his embryonic-stem-cell-research expansion bill:

The cord blood bill “is not an alternative bill. It’s an additional bill,” said Elizabeth Wenk, spokeswoman for Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.), who introduced the embryonic stem cell bill with Diana DeGette (D-Colo.). “It’s something we’d encourage all members to support because all avenues of stem cell research need to be explored.”

The fact of the matter is members on the fence, who might have concerns about the Castle bill (see Krauthammer’s reasons, besides mine) do have an option–a viable one, in this cord-blood bill. It’s a shame it has not gotten more attention.

Opponents of the Castle bill are not optimistic about how things will go on Tuesday, but there’s still time to lean on congressmen.