Des Moines, IA

To commemorate World AIDS Day many of the presidential candidates are 
launching HIV/AIDS platforms. Today, the Romney campaign sent out a
 release outlining their plan to fight AIDS.

“As President, I will mobilize our civilian instruments of power to
 address HIV/AIDS, poverty and other challenges across Africa by
 empowering a single U.S. official with the responsibility and
 authority to lead all of America’s civilian efforts in the region. I
 will fundamentally transform our international aid efforts so that
 more of our assistance goes to those suffering rather than
 bureaucracy.  Today, only one-third of all foreign aid gets to the 
people it was intended to help.  That must change.”

The statement continues outlining their plan to fight the disease in
the United States:

“As devastating as HIV/AIDS has been around the world, we must not 
forget that over a million Americans are living with the disease here
 at home.  We should do all we can to ensure that America continues to
 lead the world in cutting-edge research and development into new
 medicines. I believe in supporting policies that foster innovation and
 get every American access to affordable, quality health insurance.  I
 also believe that government should work in partnership with our
 nation’s pharmaceutical researchers and manufacturers to advance the
 HIV/AIDS research agenda and move us toward a cure.”

Yesterday, Governor Romney was campaigning in Iowa and was asked about the AIDS crisis by two women, both in response to Governor Huckabee launching his HIV/AIDS agenda. Huckabee calls for expanding health insurance, increasing research funds and continuing his support for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Romney seemed unsure of his plan at the time. The first questioner asked if the Presidential hopeful will make sure HIV positive people get the treatment they need before they get sick. He didn’t answer and instead took the opportunity to discuss his health care plan.

“I believe I am the only governor in America that’s actually put in place a plan that gets everybody health insurance. I’m pretty proud of the fact that everybody else is talking about it, but I actually did it,” he said.

He continued with a dig at politicians who want universal health insurance, presumably Senator Clinton: “Not by giving people government health insurance, but instead by helping people get private free market insurance and that’s what we did in my state…that will cover people not only with HIV/AIDS, but people with hypertension, people with diabetes, and with all the diseases and conditions we have in our country.”

The Governor was also asked what he would do to fight AIDS in Africa
 and increase worldwide funding. Romney didn’t answer the question directly — instead he pressed his commitment to America and garnered applause from the crowd.

“Well there is no question we care about the conditions of the world. Of poverty and sickness and disease. But, I have to be honest with you that my first priority is with Americans and caring for our citizens here and that will be my first responsibility as President of the United States and I will also as a member of a generous nation work hard to alleviate suffering and pain and poverty around the world,” he said.

Senator McCain also released a statement today offering his prayers to 
those affected and committed his support to the President’s Emergency
 Plan for AIDS Relief, a U.S.-funded, five-year, $15 billion plan to 
fight HIV/AIDS in developing nations. The program, which launched in
 2005, is going to expire in 2003. It has come under fire because one
 third of the funds spent on disease prevention abroad must go to
 abstinence education. McCain also called for transparency from the
 countries America assists in the fight: “Afflicted nations with whom
 we partner to fight this disease must also know that we expect a level
 of governance, transparency and effectiveness from them in order to
 make the fullest use of AIDS assistance so we can make the greatest
 impact on people’s lives.”

The Giuliani campaign also shared his thoughts on defeating the disease: “As President, I will continue America’s life saving role as a leader in the global fight against HIV/AIDS until the day humanity can declare victory against this deadly disease.”

This week Senator Clinton launched an HIV/AIDS platform at Rick
 Warren’s Saddleback Church in California. Her plan to fight the disease includes increasing funding, guaranteeing health insurance for patients, escalating commitments to research and providing at least $50 billion for global HIV/AIDS by 2013, among other initiatives.