"We Cannot Cede Our Leadership In Space"

Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama may have set himself up for charges of being a flip-flopper, when it comes to supporting NASA's quest to return to the Moon.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that in a dramatic reversal of policy, Obama on Saturday told supporters on Florida's Space Coast he no longer favors cuts to NASA's budget. "We cannot cede our leadership in space."

Obama had earlier criticized plans to return to the Moon, then go on to Mars, calling for a delay to allow spending more on education programs.

But Saturday -- when addressing a group at Brevard Community College in Titusville, where livelihoods depend on the Kennedy Space Center -- he promised, "Under my watch, NASA will inspire the world, make America stronger and help grow the economy here in Florida."

Obama is now promising to support one more space shuttle flight beyond 2010, to delay the furlough of thousands of contract workers. "We cannot afford to lose their expertise," he said.

Curiously, Obama's previous position remained on his website until Saturday. His Republican opponent, John McCain, was quick to pounce on the reversal. "Barack Obama once again demonstrated that his words really don't matter."

McCain has supported going to the moon by 2020... but has also called for a freeze on discretionary funding, on which NASA routinely relies.

FMI: www.barackobama.com