The issue still must be approved by Texas voters in November and Armstrong plans to take an active role in that campaign as well.

Armstrong expects some lawmakers to balk at an athlete waging a political fight.

“They might question your intelligence or your passion. I’ve lived it, worked on it. I know the issue inside and out. They quickly realize that,” Armstrong said. “Other people come into these offices once and never come back. For me, it never has, and never will be, about a photo op.”

For the televised forums later this month, Armstrong said he has made personal appeals to every major candidate to take part. So far, Democratic hopefuls Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Edwards and Bill Richardson, and Republicans Sam Brownback and Mike Huckabee are scheduled to participate. Edwards’ wife is currently battling cancer.

“Ideally you get them live on TV and laying out their plan and agenda for fighting this disease from prevention programs to boosting funding,” Armstrong said.

Wanting to keep cancer a nonpartisan issue, Armstrong refuses to say which candidates he supports. However, politicians from both sides of the aisle wear his foundations’ yellow “Livestrong” wristbands.

Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic nominee for president in 2004, and Republican Sen. John McCain, who is running now, have both posted their personal survivorship stories on the Armstrong foundation Web site.

“Cancer is a bipartisan issue. As long as I can, I will try my best to be as apolitical as possible,” Armstrong said.

As for personal political ambitions, Armstrong says he doubts he’ll ever run for office but won’t rule it out.

“Never say never ... (but) the day you run you lose half your friends,” he said. “I am most effective as an apolitical person.”

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