Divided We Fail: It's time to hear about health and financial security in Presidential Debates...Divided We Fail debate tracker shows presidential debates provide little - if any - insight on top two domestic concerns

COLUMBIA, S.C., July 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In preparation for

the CNN/YouTube Democratic Presidential Debate on July 23 in Charleston,

three of the nation's leading consumer, business, and labor organizations

that make up

 Divided We Fail is stepping up its message that attaining

health and lifetime financial security is vital for all Americans and that

it's time to hear from Presidential candidates about these top two domestic

issues.

As a first-in-the-nation primary state, AARP will be focusing attention

and resources in the state to mobilize our more than 543,000 members to

demand action, answers and accountability on the issues of health and

financial security. More than 700,000 South Carolina residents do not have

health insurance, including 100,000 children who are uninsured. More than

half of South Carolinians age 65 and older rely on Social Security to make

up half of their income.

Divided We Fail will be monitoring the Democratic debate in Charleston

and provide an analysis upon completion of the debate. The debate tracker

is available at http://www.dividedwefail.org.

  WHO:

    AARP staff will be available during the day and will be visiting with

media on-site

    Patrick Cobb -- AARP South Carolina Communications Director

    Cecelia Prewett -- AARP Associate Director of Media Relations

    And Divided We Fail Million Voices Stories: Divided We Fail has also

been recording stories of everyday Americans including Low Country

residents who are struggling with health care and life time financial

security issues. Individuals will be available for real-person interviews

as to why these two issues should be addresses by the Presidential

candidates.

WHERE/WHEN:

    The Citadel -- Monday, July 23, 2007 -- from 1:00 PM until conclusion

of debate

BACKGROUND:

Recently, AARP unveiled Divided We Fail (http://www.dividedwefail.org),

a national effort designed to engage the American people, elected officials

and the business community to find broad-based, bi-partisan solutions to

the most compelling domestic issues facing the nation -- health care and

the life time financial security of Americans. Divided We Fail will

encompass traditional grassroots work, advertising in national outlets and

in the primary states, and online activities which will engage the public,

business and elected officials in the debate, encouraging public leaders to

offer solutions.