Few other candidates since have sought to score political points by touting civilian or commercial space programs during campaigns. Part of the reason for this may be an aversion to funding increases, said Howard McCurdy, a professor of public affairs at American University. However, there have been a handful of instances when space has become part of presidential politics, but only indirectly. According to McCurdy, President Ronald Reagan announced the International Space Station in his 1984 State of the Union Address amid speculation that former astronaut John Glenn might be the Democratic nominee. And in the 1972 election, President Richard Nixon made a decision that McCurdy said was an effort to curry favor with the aerospace industry.
Space is basically nonpartisan.
Conversely, while some Republicans have criticized Gore for the cost overruns on the ISS, Bush has resisted such temptations. The non-debate may also be due in part to the lack of a major problem in space, said a congressional official with expertise in space policy. Despite recent setbacks in NASA's Mars program and costly delays on the ISS, the electorate at large is not looking for candidates to fix anything. There has been some effort this year to bring up the question of the United States' next big mission. The election is obviously being closely watched from Capitol Hill, where some in the space community are hoping that the next administration will set up a White House space council.