Election 2008 Update 24 February 2008

Clinton, Obama Surrogates Debate Science Policy, CQ Politics

“It wasn’t in primetime. In fact, it wasn’t broadcast at all. The audience wasn’t hand-picked to equally represent the candidates. But a weekend debate at the American Association for the Advancement of Science between science advisors to the Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns was strikingly similar to forums between the candidates.”

Scientists urged to plan for the next US president, Nature (subscription)

“Alec Ross, a technology entrepreneur and adviser to Obama, focused on his candidate’s plans to expand broadband and technology infrastructure to all Americans. He also hinted that within weeks Obama would unveil a new plan for NASA and space exploration.”

Hillary Clinton campaigns in Houston, AP

“Clinton took the stage at about 9:40 p.m. and spoke for about 30 minutes. She touched on usual campaign themes, including affordable health care for all Americans and bringing home the troops from Iraq. She also hit on a local note, pledging to keep funding NASA. “I believe we need to keep funding our next generation of spacecraft,” she said.”

Clinton, Obama address Houston hot topics, Houston Chronicle

“Obama agreed that NASA, which employs thousands of Houston-area voters who work at or with the Johnson Space Center, should be a tool for inspiring the nation. But, he said, the next president needs to have “a practical sense of what investments deliver the most scientific and technological spinoffs — and not just assume that human space exploration, actually sending bodies into space, is always the best investment.”