Simi Valley, CA – Continuing to bring the issues surrounding extreme poverty to the forefront of the political debate, ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History urged its members to pose a question to the Republican candidates at their first debate of the 2008 Presidential cycle. Voters were permitted to submit questions to the candidates and vote for their favorites on Politico.com, a sponsor of the debate.

The ONE Campaign and the 367,284 local members of ONE in California are raising awareness in their communities about extreme poverty and global disease. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is hosting the debate on Thursday, May 3, 2007, at 8:00 EST at the Reagan Library in Simi   Valley, California.

“ONE’s supporters have been voting on a question that will engage the candidates early in the election cycle about the importance of addressing extreme poverty as a part of their national security platforms,” Susan McCue, ONE Campaign CEO and President, said. “The candidates must understand how extreme poverty affects our national security, and how measures such as expanded basic education work to combat the threat extreme poverty poses to America. Studies have found strong correlations between mass literacy and the presence of democratic political systems. Democratic political systems are more stable and provide greater opportunities for citizens, alleviating the desperation and hopelessness that breeds extremism. The expansion of basic education in the poorest parts of the world is a vital component of a complete national security platform.”

“California will play a significant role in determining our next President because of the size of the state’s population and its primary structure,” said Stephanie Handler, California Field Organizer for the ONE Campaign. “ONE supporters in our state will be actively engaged to make sure that global health and extreme poverty are at the top of our next President’s agenda.”

MSNBC will carry exclusive live coverage of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library’s presidential primary debate on May 3, 2007 live on MSNBC from 8:00 to 9:30 pm (EST) and streamed live on Politico.com.

ONE works across the political aisle, encouraging voters and candidates of all parties to make the fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty part of the election debate. The Cities of San Francisco and Redlands were both declared a “City of ONE”, joining 90 other cities and five states in becoming “Cities and States of ONE” in support of the campaign. Governor Schwarzenegger also issued a commendation to ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History, recognizing the efforts of local members of ONE in the fight against extreme poverty and global disease.