CONCORD, N.H. –Global poverty and health will be the focal point of an effort by ONE Vote ’08 to see that Democratic presidential candidates discuss these issues during the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential debate.

ONE Vote ’08 volunteers will be on hand to draw attention to and urge presidential candidates to address issues of hunger and malnutrition, clean water and children’s health by incorporating them into their 2008 platforms.  75 ONE Vote ’08 volunteers will attend the debate and will be signing up other volunteers outside the forum.

"New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary is our opportunity to set the agenda for the nation’s next president," New Hampshire ONE Vote ’08 Democratic co-chair Joe Keefe said.  "This agenda must include engaging with and playing a positive role in the global community for the 21st century.

“There is no global issue more urgent than extreme poverty, and addressing it is not only the right thing to do, but is in our national interest as well,," continued Keefe. "We hope this debate will provide an opportunity to ask the presidential candidates to make a commitment to eradicating global poverty."

New Hampshire ONE Vote ’08 has an extensive field operation throughout the state with over 18,000 members and 160 Ambassadors who serve as spokespeople and advisory board to the campaign.  In the past several months ONE volunteers have traveled throughout New Hampshire raising awareness about extreme poverty with voters, political activists, candidates and their staffs.  In doing so, there has been a ONE presence at virtually every campaign event held in the state. ONE Vote ’08 will co-sponsor Wednesday’s debate at Dartmouth College.

ONE Vote is not endorsing any presidential candidate, but rather is working with each candidate on these critical issues of global poverty and health.

ONE is a coalition of millions of individuals and more than 100 of the nation's leading relief, humanitarian and advocacy organizations.

ONE Vote ’08 was launched this summer by ONE -- a new effort to rally Americans ONE by ONE to fight the emergency of global malaria, AIDS, and extreme poverty. ONE Vote is not endorsing any presidential candidate, but rather is working with each candidate on these critical issues.  The non-partisan effort brings together a broad range of talent including former Senators Bill Frist (R-TN), Tom Daschle (D-SD), Bob Kerrey (D-NE), Dina Powell, Donna Brazile, John Podesta, Tucker Eskew, Mike McCurry, pollsters Geoff Garin and John McLaughlin, campaign strategists Jack Oliver and Steve Jarding, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, actor Matt Damon, and evangelical pastor, Rev. Brian McLaren, and many others