DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) &#8212 Another bipartisan coalition announced plans Thursday to use the Iowa caucuses to advance its political agenda, this time focusing on addressing global poverty.

Former Gov. Terry Branstad and former Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson said they and others would question presidential candidates who crisscross the state about poverty. Their effort is part of One Vote ’08, a national drive to make health and poverty top foreign policy priorities in the presidential campaign.

“This is really a bipartisan effort to fight some of the biggest challenges we face in the world,” said Branstad, a Republican who now heads Des Moines University.

Pederson said the effort is aimed at building good will for the United States in poverty-stricken areas of the world such as Africa. She said aiding such countries could leave Americans more secure.

“Nations don’t go to war against countries that have saved their children,” said Pederson. “This is really a security issue.”

The effort announced Thursday intends to capitalize on the politicians and reporters who flock to Iowa in the months leading to this winter’s precinct caucuses. Other similar efforts range from attempts to have politicians discuss education issues to a group trying to get candidates back the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell rule governing gays in the military.

Pederson said 20,000 Iowa activists have signed onto the bipartisan anti-poverty campaign, making the group a formidable political force. There are 2.4 million backers around the country, she said.

Leaders of both parties support the effort, as do many religious conservatives and liberals.

Veteran GOP activist and religious conservative leader Marlys Popma endorsed the effort, saying “I truly believe that it is our Christian responsibility to care for those less privileged than us.”

Rev. Bill Bernau, a Lutheran minister from Adel and a former Democratic state legislator, also joined the cause. “For Christians, our obligation to the poor of the world is clear,” said Bernau.

Branstad said the issue came to his attention because many students at the medical school he heads have traveled to Africa, where they deal with the poverty afflicting the continent.

“Iowa’s position as the first in the nation caucus gives us a unique opportunity to ask candidates directly about a vital part of our foreign policy, eradicating global poverty and disease,” said Branstad.