Space Finally Gets a Mention in Presidential Debate

Space Finally Gets a Mention in Presidential Debate

It may only have been one word in an hour-and-a-half debate, but tonight at least one of the two contenders to be the next President of the United States said it — space.

During the third and last presidential debate of the 2012 elections, President Obama mentioned the space program.  Although the focus of the debate was foreign policy, both candidates repeatedly turned the discussion to domestic issues.  Moderator Bob Schieffer asked Republican candidate Mitt Romney how he plans to pay for the increase in military spending he advocates.  Romney answered as he has previously that he would get rid of unnecessary programs and turn Medicaid over to the states and achieve a balanced budget in 8-10 years. 

President Obama responded by saying that Romney’s numbers do not add up and that  “We need to be thinking about cyber security.  We need to be talking about space.  That’s exactly what our budget does, but it’s driven by strategy….”

That was it.  No further discussion of the space program ensued.

The Washington Post has published a transcript of the debate.

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