Candidates at a Glance

By now, it’s clear who the front-runners in this presidential election are. The Republican presidential candidate will most likely be John McCain and, though the nomination is hotly contested, the Democratic Presidential candidate will either be Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.

Hillary Rodham Clinton served as the First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001 and was elected as the junior Senator for New York State in 2000. She was reelected in 2006. As First Lady, she advocated the Clinton health care plan, which failed to gain approval by the U.S. Congress in 1994. In 1997 and 1999, Clinton supported the establishment of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, the Adoption and Safe Families Act, and the Foster Care Independence Act. As a senator, she initially supported the Bush administration on some foreign policy, voting in favor of the Iraq War Resolution. She has since opposed the handling of the Iraq War and has disagreed with the Bush Administration on most domestic issues.

Barack Obama is the junior United States senator from Illinois. He is representing the Democratic Party nomination. He has worked as a community organizer, university lecturer, and a civil rights lawyer. He then served in the Illinois senate from 1997 to 2004. He announced his campaign for the United States Senate in 2003, and one year later at the Democratic National Convention, he delivered the keynote speech. He was elected into the Senate in 2004. Obama was a member of the Democratic minority in the 109^th Congress and cosponsored legislation to control weapons, and to control public accountability for federal funds. Currently, a member of the 110^th congress, he has aided legislation for climate change, nuclear terrorism, electoral fraud and more. In this election, some of his campaign points are ending the Iraq War, increasing energy dependence, and providing universal health care.

Senator John McCain is the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He also serves on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. He attended and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958. Upon graduation he spent a career as naval aviator where he has received naval honors such as Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1982 he was elected to the U.S House of Representatives and is currently the Senior Senator of Arizona.

Senator McCain ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in the 2000 election. During his current campaign, he has focused on pro-life and issues concerning free trade. He is in favor of private Social Security accounts and welfare reform and opposes an expanded government role in health care.

All three candidates have strong opinions on issues important to Americans today. Whether you’re conservative, liberal, moderate or what have you, it’s important to hear the voices of these politicians and vote for the candidate you feel will be the best leader for this country.