At the Manhattan Institute event this morning, McCain announced that he’s “for stem cell research.”

No duh.

So is everyone else — as the fact that Rick Santorum has two bills in the Senate this week that are pro-stem-cell research that don’t involve any embryo destruction, which will pass overwhelmingly, makes clear.

But McCain’s good. Who’s going to disagree with a statement like that.

He added that he “would deeply regret if the president’s first veto was on this.” He said “it’s not good having Republicans fighting Republicans on this issue” and wishes “we could sit down with the president” and find some “middle ground.”

He added that he would rather the president’s first veto be on some pork-barrel spending bill (another topic he was passionate talking about).