Bassin said Obama is committed to the U.S. space program, as evidenced by his visit to Titusville two weeks ago.

"He knows how important it is in Florida and for the nation," Bassin said. "We seem to be on the same page, that we need to have a strong space program."

Obama proposed to re-create the National Aeronautics and Space Council, Bassin said. This council will guide Obama in the formation of a new space policy, which might not follow President Bush's under-funded plan to return to the moon and go on to Mars.

The next president will
confront a five-year gap in U.S. manned spaceflight, which will leave the International Space Station virtually under Russian control.

"Like everyone said, America needs to be the leader on this," Bassin said.

Space industry officials' greatest complaint has been that NASA has not been given adequate funding to meet its assigned goals.

"He said the senator does support labor, but we already knew that," said Steve Williams, business manager of local electrical workers union No. 76.

Republican candidate John McCain has yet to appear in Brevard County.

"We've had discussions with the McCain campaign," said Lynda Weatherman, president of the Economic Development Commission.

The Republican candidate, however, has not committed to visit the Space Coast.

Weatherman said she stressed several points, including adequate funding, program diversity at KSC and leadership.

"If we have a vision, we need to pay for that vision," she said.

After the meeting in Cocoa Beach, Bassin headed to Shuttles bar near the outskirts of Kennedy Space Center.

"We want to hear from the work force," Bassin said.