The Post today wonders if Bill Frist made a mistake in going against the conservative base on stem-cell research ...

Every winner of the Republican presidential nomination since Ronald Reagan in 1980 has had significant support from social conservatives, won in large measure by embracing stands acceptable to antiabortion groups. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who denounced the religious right during his bid for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, was defeated that year by George W. Bush, who had worked hard to cultivate social conservatives.