As the Republican House of Cards threatens to blow over from a strong wind of corruption and incompetence at the federal level, it’s easy to forget how important the many hotly contested gubernatorial contests are this year.

The prospect of more Democratic governors isn’t nearly as sexy as the idea of Democrats running one or both houses of Congress. Yet much of the progressive change that happens in America takes place at the state level.

Wisconsin and Ohio exemplify just how important gubernatorial elections can be to the culture and economic future of the States. Last night’s gubernatorial debate in Milwaukee was an impressive battle between two polished politicos: Governor Jim Doyle and Congressman Mark Green. One of Doyle’s most devastating arguments was his blunt warning that many researchers will simply look elsewhere for jobs if Mark green wins the election. Although Wisconsin is the original home of stem cell research, the Christianist wing of the GOP controls the state legislature. Mark Green tries to pretend he’s in favor of stem-cell research, but he’s a rabidly anti-choice candidate who opposes abortions even in the case of rape or incest, as well as any medical advances that Jerry Falwell wouldn’t approve of. Jim Doyle represents a high-tech future of medical progress; Mark Green promises only a Bible and more tax cuts for special interests to grow Wisconsin.

In Ohio, Republican Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell is easily the most extreme candidate nominated for governor in the history of the state. Blackwell is militantly anti-gay and anti-choice; much of Ohio’s GLBT community will feel unable to stay if he wins. College professors who happen to be gay have already fled Ohio since voters passed a gay marriage ban in 2004. The constitutional amendment bans not only gay marriage but equal benefits to gay state employees. Luckily, since Democrat Ted Strickland has a double-digit lead in every poll taken, this shouldn’t come to pass.

Americans vote with their feet, and unless Ohio and Wisconsin go blue this fall, both states will be drained of some of their most economically productive citizens. Neither state’s economy can afford such a body blow.

George W. Bush’s deplorable veto of embryonic stem cell research is already having a big political impact beyond the Beltway.

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, locked in a vicious battle with his GOP opponent, Congressman Mark Green, is touting his own leadership on stem cells and attacking Green as an out-of-touch extremist.

The University of Wisconsin is one of America’s premier research institutions investigating the potential life-saving power of stem cells. Wisconsinites overwhelmingly support stem cell research, so Green’s bow to the religious right could well hurt him in November.

Recent polls show the race is a toss-up, with the independent Rasmussen poll showing Doyle up 47%-41%, and the Republican Strategic Vision outfit showing Doyle up 43%-42%.

Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO), who is locked in a tight re-election battle in 2006 against State Auditor Claire McCaskill, has just announced his opposition to a ballot measure that protects early stem-cell research in Missouri. This ballot is set to be voted on in November.

Talent’s stand was announced the same day that supporters of early stem-cell research turned in 288,991 signatures to place the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot. That’s nearly twice as many as were required.

In a three-sentence statement issued late Monday afternoon, Talent said, “I personally cannot support the initiative because I’ve always been opposed to human cloning and this measure would make cloning human life at the earliest stage a constitutional right.”

This is a losing issue for Sen. Talent. Missouri voters are confused on his stance on stem cell research and overwhelmingly, Americans are seeking leadership on this issue. This decision will hurt the incumbent in the polls and might even cost him the election. McCaskill is offering the leadership that Missourians and Americans are seeking.

On Monday, a spokeswoman for McCaskill contended that many Missourians had hoped that Talent would support the stem-cell initiative after dropping his backing of Brownback’s bill.

“He was against it before he was for it and now he’s against it again,” McCaskill spokeswoman Adrianne Marsh said. “Missourians are confused. Obviously, Senator Talent is confused himself because the initiative strictly prohibits human cloning.

“Senator Talent will probably change his mind again after his next poll.”