Yesterday numerous religious leaders called on candidates for public office (not just the presidentials) to make poverty a more urgent priority. A group of more than 100 called specifically for relief and rebuilding on the hurricane- and poverty-ravaged Gulf Coast:

In an attempt to solve what they called a "moral crisis," the religious leaders sent the statement to national leaders of both parties to urge them to restore the Gulf Coast communities by creating resident-led partnerships that will enable residents to help rebuild their communities.

The statement also called for government officials to increase federal and state funding for affordable housing and coastal wetland restoration, and to implement a flood control system to protect the communities from future severe weather.

The statement and full list of signatories is here.

And in Washington, DC,

Praying outside the U.S. Capitol Sept. 16, Catholic, Protestant, Islamic and Jewish leaders invoked the words of the prophet Micah in calling upon candidates for public office in the Nov. 4 election to join with Americans of faith concerned about the growing poverty in the U.S. to work for justice for the poor.

It's important to make these statements right now. A new administration and a new Congress will take the reins before we know it, and they'll put the most energy into the issues they hear about most from voters. If we don't put poverty on their radar, they'll do exactly nada about it. With faith leaders asking en masse, and in some cases face to face, the candidates and electeds won't be able put poverty on the back burner or sweep it under the rug as they have for decades.