It sounds to me like McCain or his advisers have been talking to Newt Gingrich. He’s been a long-time advocate of awarding prizes, which are a major part of his poll-tested Platform of the American People (the numbers in parentheses refect the level of public support):
–Prizes should be given to companies and individuals that invent creative ways to solve problems.
–We support giving large financial prizes to companies and individuals who invent an affordable car that gets 100 miles to the gallon. (77 to 15)
—We support giving a large financial prize to the first company or individual who invents new ways to successfully cut pollution. (79 to 18)
We support giving a large financial prize to the first company or individual who invents a new, safer way to dispose of nuclear waste products. (79 to 16)
Gingrich also proposed a $20 billion reward for a private firm that completes the first Mars mission.
