Well, we now have a second space policy statement from a Democrat candidate for president, this from Barack Obama, with further elaboration here.

As Jeff Foust notes, it doesn't seem to be very well thought out, and he may indeed not recognize just how radical a proposal it is.

I certainly don't support it, not because I would be broken hearted at a "delay" (which might effectively become a cancellation, once it becomes clear a few years down the road that private alternatives are going to beat it to orbit) of Constellation at this point, given what a pigs breakfast it seems to have become in the form of ESAS, but rather because I see little (and in fact negative) value in pouring another ten billion dollars into the rathole called federal education spending.

From a political standpoint, I don't think that it would affect his electoral prospects, other than in the swing state of Florida (and perhaps Ohio, with Glenn). As others comment there, I do find it a little disappointing that the Senator views NASA simply as cash source for social spending. NASA's money is not well spent, but I'd rather see a policy debate on how it could be spent to get better results in terms of NASA's charter, than whether or not they should have it. But such a debate (and associated analysis) is surely far beyond whoever is advising Obama on such things.

There's a lot of discussion in comments, and I agree with "anonymous" that had NASA stuck with the original Steidle plan, and had the CEV flyoff by now, the program would be a lot harder to kill in 2009. As it is, given all the technical issues and delays it's facing, and potential loss of momentum, the program is in danger of cancellation almost regardless of who the next president is.

[Update a couple minutes later]

Clark Lindsey has similar thoughts:

I would prefer that a President Obama offer a smarter manned program rather a minimized manned program.

Don't hold your breath on that, though, from Obama (or really, any other candidate, including the Republican ones, unless by some miracle Gingrich were to get into the race).

Also Democrat Ferris Valyn has further thoughts.

In my opinion, Obama has NOT been sufficiently briefed on the Direct Launcher concept.

That said, if Obama's apparent policy (a mere footnote to an education paper) were enacted without change that would be a very bad thing. But Congress and the space lobby would greatly modify that footnote before it became law.

If money being spent on ESAS is wasted money then anything that offers a chance to break up the status quo offers opportunity as well as challenge.

And for the record, even my dogged support of Mike Griffin and ESAS is wearing thin.

In my opinion, Obama has NOT been sufficiently briefed on the Direct Launcher concept.

That said, if Obama's apparent policy (a mere footnote to an education paper) were enacted without change that would be a very bad thing. But Congress and the space lobby would greatly modify that footnote before it became law.

If money being spent on ESAS is wasted money then anything that offers a chance to break up the status quo offers opportunity as well as challenge.

And for the record, even my dogged support of Mike Griffin and ESAS is wearing thin.

Rand, you and I and Clark are all on the same page on this. The candidates all play to nothing but the usual cant because space has been to expensive to become important. And it's been too expensive to be important because of the usual cant...

Let's hope the present New Space surge lasts (or is allowed to last) long enough to eventually break that cycle.

so, slimming down the most bloated and inefficient part of NASA ( regardless of which other useless hole its poured down ), is now seen as negative ?

"In my opinion, Obama has NOT been sufficiently briefed on the Direct Launcher concept."

Politicians do not care about hardware. NASA could be using any method anyone could imagine; EELV, Direct, transporters, whatever. Obama would still regard the program as a cash cow for his education scheme.

Yes. Well if you're going to cut a "feel good" program like manned space exploration, then it's a good idea to do it " . . . for the children."

What this tells me is that if Obama gets elected, the aerospace industry had better start figuring out how to get a complete class, teacher and all, into space, pronto.

I don't know... I highly doubt he has really investigated the issue, and when he does.. will take plenty of viewpoints into account. He has a pretty good record of being a good listener. He also seems to understand the larger issues of direction and problem solving that the space industry fits very well into.
I would be quite surprised if he was for scrapping the thing.