Science shares the limelight as election battle enters final phase

摘要

This year's epic battle to secure the White House has bitterly divided America. But as the final showdown on 2 November nears, observers agree on one thing: science has for once played a prominent role in the contest. Several key research issues found their way into speeches and news headlines during the campaign, including stem-cell research, nuclear-weapons proliferation, nuclear waste and the alleged politicization of scientific decisions under George W. Bush's administration. But the topic that grabbed the nation's attention as the campaign reached its frenetic peak in October was the shortage of flu vaccines —an issue especially important to older Americans, the nation's most reliable voters.