Candidates
Iraq
Immigration
Economy
Hillary Clinton,
D-NY and former
First Lady
Voted to authorize
the war. Would
begin withdrawing
troops (most out
within a year).
Leave some troops
to protect U.S.
interests in Iraq.
Supports path to
citizenship for
illegal immigrants
who pay fines,
taxes & learn
English. Opposes
drivers licenses.
Says it should be
easier to reunify
families. Voted for
border fence.
Stop tax cuts for
those earning
>$250,000 & freeze
estate tax and
foreclosures.
Economic stimulus
package. Increase
minimum wage and
job training.
John Edwards
Former Senator
(D-NC)
Voted to authorize
the war. But says
made a mistake.
Would withdraw
~40,000
immediately, with
all out in 10
months. Would
keep some troops
in region.
Supports path to
citizenship for
illegal immigrants
who pay fines,
taxes and learn
English. Crack
down on employers
who hire illegal
immigrants. Double
border patrol.
Repeal Bush tax
cuts for those
earning >$200,000.
Double the child tax
credits. Raise
minimum wage to
$9.50 by 2012.
More tax credits for
research.
Barack Obama
D-IL
Was not in Senate
for 2002 vote but
spoke out against
invasion. Withdraw
troops in 16
months, leaving
some to protect
American interests
in Iraq.
Supports path to
citizenship for
illegal immigrants
who pay fines,
taxes and learn
English; can earn
driver’s licenses.
Voted for border
fence.
Wants to exchange
Bush tax cuts for
new ones for those
earning <$500,000.
Wants $4,000 tax
credit for tuition.
Renegotiate
NAFTA.
Health Care
Require insurance.
Provide govn’t
plans. Large
employers required
to provide
insurance; small
firms get tax
credits.
Require insurance.
Create regional
health plans with
choices. Require
employers to
contribute.
Required for
children. Would
offer subsidies to
make affordable.
Employers required
to provide coverage
or pay.
Global Warming
Education
Social
Supports cap and
trade program to
cut carbon
emissions. Cut
electricity usage.
Fuel standards: 55
mpg by 2050.
Wants to reform No
Child Left Behind &
Pre-kindergarten
for all. Wants to
increase grants &
make college loans
more affordable;
increase tax credits
for college.
Supports abortion
rights. Opposes
ban on “partial
birth” abortion.
Supports civil
unions. Allow
states decide gay
marriage. Opposed
constitutional
amendment
banning it.
Cap greenhouse
gas emissions
Wants new global
warming treaty.
End tax breaks for
oil companies.
Wants to radically
overhaul No Child
Left Behind. Wants
national program to
pay for one year of
public college for
students who work
part time, stay out
of trouble.
Supports abortion
rights. Criticized
Supreme Court for
upholding “partial
birth” abortion ban.
Supports civil
unions. Opposes
gay marriage.
Opposed
amendment
banning it.
Supports cap and
trade program to
reduce greenhouse
gases. Wants oil,
coal, gas firms to
pay for emission
allowances.
Move away from
judging schools by
tests as in No Child
Left Behind law.
Would increase
grants, & pay for
teachers who
mentor students
and boost
achievement.
Supports abortion
rights. Criticized
Supreme Court for
upholding “partial
birth” abortion ban.
Supports civil
unions. Would let
states decide gay
marriage. Opposes
amendment
banning it.
Iraq war
Immigration
Rudy
Giuliani,
Former NYC
mayor
Supported Bush
policy. Opposes
troop withdrawal
timetable.
Wants border
enforcement,
including fence.
Wants foolproof
biometric entry
card. Would allow
12 million illegal
immigrants to
stay in U.S. if
they paid fines,
worked, and
learned English.
Mike
Huckabee,
Former AK
governor
Supported
invasion but also
has called Bush
administration’s
foreign policy
“arrogant.’’
Originally had
lukewarm
support for
surge. Opposes
troop withdrawal
timetable.
Supports border
fence. Wants to
go after
employers for
hiring the
undocumented.
Believes illegal
immigrants will
come forward and
return home to
get in line to
come back to
U.S.
Economy
Health Care
Global Warming
Education
Make Bush tax
cuts permanent.
Repeal the estate
tax. Wants to
reduce corporate
taxes and
government
regulation.
Believes
expansion of
medical
savings
accounts will
lead to lower
health care
costs. Wants a
$15,000 tax
deduction for
families to buy
insurance.
Opposes mandatory
cap on carbon
emissions. Supports
energy alternative
project similar to
drive to go to the
moon. In private
sector represented
energy interests.
Supports nuclear,
hydro and solar
power.
Supports school
choice, including
vouchers.
Increased funding
as mayor. Wants
to expand charter
schools. Wants to
give military
families
scholarship for
private schools.
Would strive to
get a balanced
federal budget.
Wants to
eliminate the IRS
and move to a
consumption tax.
Believes
wellness care
and prevention
the answer to
lower health
care costs.
Favors health
savings
accounts; tax
deductions.
Supports mandatory
cap and trade
system to reduce
emissions. Vows to
achieve energy
independence by
end of second term
through nuclear,
solar, clean coal,
wind, etc.
Supports No
Child Left Behind
law. Fought for
charter schools in
Arkansas.
Social Issues
Supports abortion
rights. Promises to
appoint “strict
constructionist”
judges. Opposes
gay marriage.
Supports certain
forms of domestic
partnerships and
hate crimes
legislation.
Opposes abortion
rights. Wants Roe v.
Wade overturned.
Supports
constitutional
amendment banning
gay marriage.
Opposes federal
funds for abortion.
Iraq war
Sen. John
McCain,
R-Ariz.
Rep. Ron
Paul,
R-Texas
Mitt Romney,
Former MA
governor
Immigration
Voted yes on war.
Opposed Bush
strategy after
initial fall of
Hussein.
Supports surge.
Opposes any
withdrawal
timetable.
Proposed bill
that would have
secured borders,
created temp.
worker program,
allowed illegal
immigrants to
stay. Now says
enforcement
must come first.
Opposes war.
Opposes Bush
doctrine of preemption. Wants to
bring all troops
home fast.
Wants to abolish
birthright
citizenship.
Opposes any
health,
education or
welfare for illegal
immigrants.
Opposes guest
worker
programs.
Supports war.
Wants to add
troops. Opposes
withdrawal
timetable. Wants
to help Muslims
reject extremism.
As governor
didn’t act against
sanctuary cities;
opposes them
now. No path to
legalization for
illegal
immigrants.
Wants
crackdown on
employers hiring
the
undocumented.
Economy
Health Care
Global Warming
Education
Social Issues
Extend Bush tax
cuts although
originally voted
against. Simplify
tax code.
Dramatically cut
spending.
$5,000
refundable tax
credit for
families buying
health
insurance.
Supports
importation of
drugs from
Canada.
Reduce emissions
through cap and
trade system. Voted
no on increasing
auto fuel standards.
Supports nuclear.
Says U.S. should
support global effort
if China and India
are in.
Opposed national
standards for
federal money.
Supports
teaching virtues
in the schools.
Supports tax-free
savings accounts
for school
expenses.
Supports repeal of
Roe v. Wade but in
1999 said he did not
because he didn’t
want to force
women into illegal
abortions.
Believes marriage
should be between
a man and a
woman.
For tax credits
for health
insurance and
drugs.
Opposes any
government
mandate.
Would allow
drugs to be
imported.
Opposes federal
mandates. Favors
expansion of
nuclear. Sees no
scientific consensus
on global warming.
Wants private
property rights
enforced to stop
polluting.
$3,000 tax credit
for educationrelated expenses.
Wants to abolish
the education
department.
Wants to overturn
Roe v. Wade;
opposes “partial
birth” abortions.
Believes marriage is
a religious rite and
government
shouldn’t be
involved at all.
Opposes sweeping
mandates. Says
U.S. should not act
without China and
developing nations
involved. Supports
drilling in Arctic,
alternative fuels,
nuclear.
Wants to focus
on science and
math goals.
Supports charter
schools, more
parental
involvement and
higher salaries for
high-performing
teachers.
Wants to replace
eliminate federal
income tax.
Wants massive
spending cuts.
Wants to restore
gold standard.
Make Bush tax
cuts permanent.
Wants focus on
worker retraining
and
strengthening
math and science
education.
Supported
mandated
health
insurance. But
says that
shouldn’t be
national plan.
Wants freemarket system
with flexibility
for states.
Opposes abortion
rights after
supporting them as
of 1994.
Supports a
constitutional
amendment banning
gay marriage.
At one time
supported domestic
partnerships.