US Presidential Hopeful Backs NCAGE

The National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion (NCAGE) has one presidential hopeful on its side.

The organization, which is a political action group that works to defeat the expansion of corporate and government-sponsored gambling, sent out a survey in July to each of the presidential candidates to find out how they as president would handle several gambling expansion scenarios, including Internet gambling regulation.

The NCAGE asked each of the candidates if they would veto current legislation aimed at legalizing and regulating Internet gambling. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Repbulican, was the sole respondent and replied with an affirmative.

Guy Clark, chairman of the NCAGE, said although the group only heard from one candidate, he is pleased with the response.

"It means someone thinks this is a serious issue," he said.

Clark told IGN that the group sent the survey to gauge whether or not they could raise the issue of gambling expansion during the presidential campaign--if so, with which candidate.

He said he is not surprised that the other candidates did not respond.

"Candidates don't like to answer surveys," he said. "They don't want to get cornered."