DES MOINES, IA–ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History today praised New Mexico Governor and Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson for laying out his agenda to target extreme poverty and global disease in Africa and around the world.

“Governor Richardson presented his vision to fight extreme poverty and global disease and make the world a more stable and secure place for future generations.  Extreme poverty takes the life of a child every 3 seconds.  We have cost-effective and proven solutions to change that.  The emergency is clear, but so too is the opportunity for America to take the lead and secure a more hopeful future.  The ONE Campaign calls on all presidential candidates to take a stand on these critical issues,” ONE President & CEO Susan McCue explained.

In a speech in Des Moines, IA, Richardson discussed how the challenges of extreme poverty and global disease are critical to America’s security and that responding to those challenges will be a prominent component of his foreign policy.  Richardson’s campaign described the address as a “21^st Century Marshall Plan.”

The ONE Campaign, through its ONE Vote ’08 initiative, is not endorsing or opposing any candidate, but is encouraging all presidential candidates to address these critical issues.  Richardson has been vocal on the importance of America taking the lead and making historical commitments to the battle against extreme poverty and global disease.

“It is encouraging to see Governor Richardson and other presidential candidates making hunger, poverty and global disease a high priority.” said Iowa State Senate Majority Leader and ONE Vote ’08 Ambassador Mike Gronstal.  “I hope that all campaigns speak out forcefully about these issues and create detailed plans about how they will help to eliminate poverty.”

“I applaud Governor Richardson for laying out his agenda to fight extreme poverty and global disease. For the past five months, ONE members across the early primary states have been talking face-to-face with Governor Richardson and all the presidential candidates and asking them, ‘What will you do as president to help end extreme poverty?’  Their hard work, energy and grassroots-mobilizing is paying off.  I encourage all candidates to continue to speak out on these vital issues,” McCue added.

ONE Vote ’08: Saving Lives, Securing Our Future does not endorse or oppose any candidate, but urges all presidential candidates to take a stand on these critical issues and present their plans to solve problems associated with global disease and extreme poverty. The non-partisan effort brings together a broad range of talent.  Co-chaired by former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Bill Frist of Tennessee and Tom Daschle of South Dakota, ONE Vote’s advisory team former Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE), strategists Jack Oliver, Steve Jarding, and Dina Powell, former presidential advisors Donna Brazile, John Podesta, Tucker Eskew, and Mike McCurry, pollsters Geoff Garin and John McLaughlin, and leaders from the faith community, national security experts, and many others.