The Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore and the Eos Foundation in Boston are leading an effort to put the issues of poverty and opportunity high on the agenda for the 2008 presidential campaign.

The foundations plan to start a Web site on October 30 called “Spotlight on Poverty” that will feature filmed responses from several presidential candidates talking about poverty and will provide daily news, opinion, and research on the topic.

In addition, they will release a poll that shows voters’ attitudes toward poverty and hunger.

The effort also includes a panel discussion at the National Press Club in Washington that features former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford of Tennessee, former Department of Housing and Urban Development secretary Jack Kemp, U.S. Rep. James McGovern of Massachusetts, and the political consultant Jim McLaughlin.