A number of circumstances set AIDS apart from other epidemics and help explain why it has been so politicized: (1) AIDS has occurred at a time when modern medicine was believed to be well on the way to abolishing epidemic diseases altogether, at least in the Western world; (2) AIDS has been very specific in the groups it has affected, above all, male homosexuals; (3) AIDS is firmly linked with sex; and (4) AIDS initially was considered an American disease. AIDS has had a significant impact on the setting of State and local political agendas, forcing legislators to focus on such difficult questions as whether public funds should be expended on AIDS, how much should be spent on AIDS, and what should be the ultimate goal of such expenditures. AIDS also played a role in the two presidential elections held since its discovery: the 1984 election and the 1988 election. In the 1984 election, AIDS was viewed as part of the larger issue of gay rights. In 1988, however, AIDS had continued to grow as a public health menace and appeared to be the main issue of the campaign.