Dean's response was "I'm a huge supporter of human space exploration ... but what we've really got to be worrying about right now is the deficiet." Really, this is very nearly the best that one can hope for. No candidate is ever going to concede that their opponent has had a really nifty idea, but this is a good sight better than the reflexive opposition which one might expect.

What I'd most like to see is a fiscally-minded space supporter advocate for prizes, data/services purchasing, loan guarantees, and other frugal means of stimulating space entrepreneurialism. I think this is equally unlikely to come from either the president or any of his opponents, which is a shame.