AARP launches campaign to encourage Presidential candidates to focus on health care, financial security

AARP on Wednesday in Nevada launched a campaign that seeks to focus the 2008 presidential election on health care and financial security issues, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

AARP has begun to launch the campaign, called "Divided We Fail," in states with early presidential primaries and caucuses. In a speech before members, lawmakers and others at the state Capitol, AARP President Erik Olsen said that health care costs, which continue to increase for employers and employees, have affected U.S. competitiveness abroad. Olsen said that AARP will ask presidential candidates to address health care on a bipartisan basis and will "demand action, answers and accountability" from the candidates (Whaley, Las Vegas Review-Journal , 4/26).