The 'Circle of Protection' a consortium of of more than 65 US church leaders, heads of denominations, relief and development agencies, and other Christian organizations,  invited the presidential candidates - President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney - to submit short video statements outlining their policies on how they plan to work to alleviate poverty.

The leaders said in a statement: "We believe that this presidential campaign should include a clear focus on what each candidate proposes to do to provide help and opportunity for hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world."