On the campaign trail

摘要

It is less specific policies and more the approach to science that will distinguish the next US president. Primary season in the US presidential race is finally over. As the dust settles, it remains to be seen how much the protracted battle between Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton has hurt the Democratic party, but for now politicians of all stripes are regrouping and strategizing about how to win the election. Those who believe that science and technology issues should be at the forefront of the campaign agenda have so far been disappointed. The notion of a 'science debate' - itself debatable (see Nature 451, 605; 2008) - has fizzled out. Pleas for the candidates to address research issues seem largely to have fallen on deaf ears.