AIDS IN ’88

Routinely, our presidential election campaigns have a predictable round of issues—the economy, foreign and domestic policy, defense, taxes, et cetera—on which candidates take early, partisan stands with little difficulty. The 1988 campaign, however, has been short-circuited. The growing health threat of AIDS is forcing a new key issue upon nomination seekers of both parties.

All candidates agree that a position on AIDS treatment and prevention is now indispensable. “At this point, Babbitt doesn’t raise AIDS as part of his normal stump speech,” says his aide Mike McCurry. “But he’s asked about it everywhere he speaks.” A Gary Hart official echoes this impression. “Out on the campaign trail,” he says, “questions about AIDS come second only to questions about Iranscam.”

JM

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John McLaughlin

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AIDS

Presidential Election

Routinely, our presidential election campaigns have a predictable round of issues—the economy, foreign and domestic policy, defense, taxes, et cetera—on which candidates take early, partisan stands with little difficulty. The 1988 campaign, however, has been short-circuited. The growing health threat of AIDS is forcing a new key issue upon nomination seekers of both parties.

All candidates agree that a position on AIDS treatment and prevention is now indispensable. “At this point, Babbitt doesn’t raise AIDS as part of his normal stump speech,” says his aide Mike McCurry. “But he’s asked about it everywhere he speaks.” A Gary Hart official echoes this impression. “Out on the campaign trail,” he says, “questions about AIDS come second only to questions about Iranscam.”