Lance Armstrong on Why Many Candidates are Snubbing His Cancer Forum - USA Today

This morning's USA Today blog, "On Politics," highlights Lance Armstrong's cancer forum for Presidential candidates - and why only six candidates are participating.

 

The list of Democratic candidates scheduled to participate in the Livestrong Presidential Cancer Forum includes:

• Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
• Senator John Edwards
• Governor Bill Richardson
• Congressman Dennis Kucinich

The list of Republican candidates includes:

• Senator Sam Brownback
• Governor Mike Huckabee

 

Governor Tommy Thompson, who has strong family ties to breast cancer, recently dropped out of the race after pledging to double the NIH research budget.

 

Retired cyclist Lance Armstrong says that he has spoken to every single one of the Presidential candidates personally but still has had little luck with the cancer forum. The cancer debates, moderated by Armstrong and Chris Matthews, take place on Monday and Tuesday next week in Iowa.

 

The main reasons he outlines in the USA Today blog are that (1) there are too many forums, (2) other new events have a greater sense of immediacy than cancer and healthcare. None of the major GOP candidates are participating in Armstrong's cancer debate. Armstrong said, "the Republican side, on health care issues, is a little tentative right now because of concern over any stem-cell talk."

 

Nevertheless, for the breast cancer community, the Livestrong Presidential Cancer Forum is a historic opportunity to share their hard-won wisdom and perspective with the Presidential candidates.

 

Read questions and advice for the Presidential candidates from MyBreastCancerNetwork.com.

 

Read the full USA Today blog on Lance Armstrong's Cancer Forum.