The 79-year-old Iowa woman who gained national attention for picking up pop cans to supplement her income attended last night’s presidential debate. Winifred Skinner of Altoona grabbed the headlines when she told democrat Al Gore of her meager income, expensive medications and her daily trek to collect pop cans to make some extra bucks. She boarded an r-v last Friday to drive out to Boston, the site of last night’s debate between Gore and George W. Bush. She says she’s met a lot of wonderful.Gore picked up the tab for Skinner’s cross-country trip. Skinner met privately with the Vice President yesterday afternoon as part of his debate prep. Skinner says she told the V-P they want affordable insurance that includes prescription drugs.Skinner says she’s not looking for charity, she’s hoping to convince Gore and Bush to implement some sort of Medicare insurance policy that would help reduce the price of prescription drugs. Skinner’s a bit overwhelmed by the glare of media attention. She says it’s been “something out this world.”Skinner’s looking forward to getting back home and getting her grass mowed, but she’ll rest up a few days before going back out to pick up cans.
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