McCrory on stem cell research

Pat McCrory says embryonic stem cell research is unnecessary.

After Tuesday night's debate, the Republican gubernatorial candidate spoke to reporters briefly about his views in response to a set of recent TV ads by Democratic rival Beverly Perdue.

One version of the ad features primary lateral sclerosis sufferer Sarah Witt saying that McCrory is "against hope" for his opposition to the research.

But McCrory noted that he supports adult and amniotic stem cell research, which do not use embryos leftover from in vitro fertilization clinics. 

"I think the adult stem cell and the other type of stem cell research is sufficient to meet the medical needs that are required at this point in time," he said. On embryonic stem cell research, he added: "I don't think there's a need to do that."

McCrory said that the topic has not come up in state government and that he can't recall Perdue "ever showing this passion and emotion for it" before and he criticized the ad as the work of a "national operative" coming up with the "topic of the week."

"I think it's very inappropriate to use a person with that severe disability to, I think, misstate what's happening out there right now," he said.