STATE OF OPPORTUNITY. Can Kids in Michigan Get Ahead?
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#TalkPoverty and Politics

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The pressure for both candidates to successfully convey their messages to the American public in tonight's Presidential debate is high.

Fox News reporter Bill O’Reilly wants Romney to ‘smack the president' – figuratively of course. Obama’s team wants the president to be clear and concise. But it seems some Americans want more.

Over the past few weeks there’s been a growing chorus of non-profit organizations, news stations, and think tanks that have been using a twitter hashtag to ask both candidates to address poverty in the debate. .

Created by The Nation’s Greg Kaufman, #TalkPoverty is directed at the moderators of the presidential and vice presidential debates with the goal to have moderators ask each candidate how they plan to address childhood poverty in their first 100 days in office.

Faith-based organizations such as Sojourners and the non-partisan Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity have also been urging their readers to tweet the hashtag.

Almost a quarter of children in the United States live in poverty. Michigan’s numbers are nearly the same. I’ll be tuning in tonight urging Obama and Romney to #TalkPoverty. I hope you do the same.

Follow State of Opportunity on Twitter for live commentary of tonight's presidential debate.

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