Thanks for bringing this to our attention. ScienceDebate 2008 (http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php) was also trying to at least get a discussion rolling, but this never happened for the current campaign. I think that the current economic issues are one thing and the aspect of how the greater public relates to science is quite another. Yet, together, both things are affecting the perception of science. I am not sure that the promotion of making "science sexy" is really the issue here. There are so many other factors involved in deciding whether or not to pursue a career in science. Unfortunately, a lot of this information is kept behind closed doors, or is not readily accessible. Still, we may be able to take small steps in our communities. Being funded by non-NIH organizations and through private grants may afford opportunities in which someone can speak to an audience that is ready to hear about what is going on in labs.
On the other hand and aside from the federal level, there are so many states that have lost manufacturing (jobs) and are hoping to be a biotech hub. From this economic point of view, perhaps there may be a chance for someone to leverage this thought and bring it to the table where it will also be heard.