There has been some question about where Governor Huntsman stands on stem-cell research that destroys human embryos. It is a live question because as the law stands, a new president can overturn President Obama’s executive order enabling federal funding for the research. Several years ago he suggested in an interview that he disagreed with Eagle Forum, the social-conservative group, on stem cells, but I am now aware of any direct statement of his views.

In response to a query, his spokesman Tim Miller emails me, “Jon Huntsman is a passionate supporter of stem cell research which is leading to new discoveries that will improve and lengthen the lives of many Americans. He supports federal funding for lines that have a demonstrated history of success — adult stem cells, non-embryonic stem-cells and certain types of embryonic stem cell research. Gov. Huntsman opposes federal funding for new lines that would do harm to embryos.”

I followed up by asking about “certain types of embryonic stem-cell research” and was told the governor supports the Bush policy, which funded research on stem-cell lines that were derived from embryos that had been destroyed prior to mid-2001.