REPUBLICANS
MIKE HUCKABEE
ECONOMY
Supports abolishing the Internal Revenue Service
Supports replacing current federal income, payroll, corporate and other taxes with a national "flat" sales taxSupports a presidential line-item veto
Supports Washington's economic stimulus plan but urges spending on infrastructure projects
IRAQ
Opposes setting a timetable for withdrawal
Supports a regional summit for neighboring countries to help stabilize Iraq
Supports Gen. David Petraeus and the troop buildup
Sees Iraq as a battleground in a "generational, ideological" war on terrorism
NATIONAL SECURITY
Supports expanding the Army, increasing defense budget
Supports empowering moderate Muslims by dealing with "underlying conditions" of terrorism
Supports focus on renewed diplomacy and cooperation
Supports closing Guantanamo prison
HEALTH CARE
Opposes mandatory universal health care
Supports working with the private sector, Congress and health care providers to overhaul the health care system
Believes the private sector and states can find ways to bring down costs
Supports making health insurance policies portable and expenses tax-deductible
IMMIGRATION
Supports a 120-day window for illegal immigrants to register with the government, leave the United States and then apply to immigrate; supports barring offenders from re-entering for 10 years
Supports tough penalties for employers that hire illegal immigrants
Supports ensuring the border fence is completed by 2010
Supports increasing the number of border agents
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Supports mandatory cap-and-trade measures (which would cap greenhouse gas emissions and let companies trade emissions allowances)
Believes energy independence is the way to address global warming issues
Supports increasing fuel-efficiency standards to 35 mpg by 2020
Supports nuclear power as an alternative energy source
EDUCATION
Believes that there is "value" in the No Child Left Behind law but that states must have the authority to enact education programs for their students
Supports making art and music an "essential" part of curriculum
Supports public-school choice and the right of parents to home-school children
Supports providing bonuses and forgiving student loans for "high-performing teachers" in low-performing schools
ABORTION
Believes Roe v. Wade should be overturned
Supports a constitutional amendment banning abortion
GUN CONTROL
Supports a national "right to carry" law that would require states to recognize concealed-weapons permits issued by other states
Opposes restoring federal ban on assault weapons
Belongs to the National Rifle Association
JOHN MCCAIN
ECONOMY
Supports cutting corporate tax rate to 25 percent, from current 35 percent
Supports first-year deductions of equipment and technology investments
Supports permanent research-and-development tax credits for business
Supports repealing the alternative minimum tax
Supports making Bush tax cuts permanent
Supports curbing congressional earmarks and "pork-barrel" projects
Supports requiring a three-fifths vote in Congress to raise taxes
Supports reducing estate taxes
IRAQ
Was an early proponent of the U.S. troop buildup
Believes there are not enough U.S. forces in Iraq to halt violence, secure strongholds, rebuild the economy, dismantle al-Qaida and stabilize the country
Opposes setting a withdrawal timetable for troops
Believes the war is justified but has been mismanaged
NATIONAL SECURITY
Supports increasing and modernizing the U.S. military
Supports expanding and improving human intelligence capabilities
Supports developing and deploying theater and national missile defenses
Supports engaging in "battleground of ideas" to thwart terrorism recruitment
Supports closing Guantanamo prison
HEALTH CARE
Supports controlling health care costs as a fundamental priority
Supports promoting competition and reforming tax code to "eliminate bias toward employer-sponsored health insurance"
Supports $2,500 tax credit for individuals, $5,000 for families
Supports making plans portable and available across state lines
Supports reforming Medicare payment systems
IMMIGRATION
Co-sponsored 2006 legislation that called for temporary-worker program and pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants
Now proposes conditional pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants after they pay fines and learn English
Believes a secure border is "essential to national security"
Voted for border fence; supports securing ports and other points of entry
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Supports mandatory cap-and-trade measures (which would cap greenhouse gas emissions and let companies trade emissions allowances)
Supports increasing fuel-efficiency standards
Supports nuclear power
Opposes opening Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration
EDUCATION
Supports K-12 school vouchers
Sponsored Senate legislation for tax-free savings accounts for education
Supports community college aid
Supports home schooling
ABORTION
Believes Roe v. Wade is a "flawed decision" that should be overturned
Supports nominating judges who do not "legislate from the bench"
Supports leaving abortion legislation to the states
GUN CONTROL
Voted against ban on assault-type weapons
Opposes waiting periods for gun buyers
l Voted to shield gun-makers from civil suits
l Supports "instant criminal background checks" to prevent criminals from buying firearms
RON PAUL
ECONOMY
Supports dismantling the Internal Revenue Service and eliminating most taxes, including income, dividend and savings, payroll, estate and corporate taxes
Supports eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, capital gains and tips for service workers
Supports legalizing gold and silver as currencies
Supports freezing nondefense, "nonentitlement" spending at current levels
Supports making Bush tax cuts permanent
IRAQ
Voted against authorizing Iraq invasion in 2002, saying it unconstitutionally transferred the "congressional authority to declare war to the executive branch"
Supports withdrawing all troops immediately
Maintains that withdrawal is in the national self-interest and security
NATIONAL SECURITY
Supports making secure borders the top defense priority
Supports refocusing military and intelligence efforts on locating terrorists
Introduced legislation to allow the president to authorize "private sources" to capture or kill enemies
Supports a foreign policy of nonintervention
Supports closing Guantanamo prison
HEALTH CARE
Supports eliminating federal regulations that discourage small businesses from providing coverage
Supports making all medical expenses tax-deductible
Supports making every individual eligible for health savings accounts
Voted against 2003 Medicare prescription drug law for seniors
IMMIGRATION
Supports building border fence and increasing physical security along border
Opposes amnesty and social services for illegal immigrants
Opposes birthright citizenship
Supports detaining and deporting illegal immigrants
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Supports repealing federal regulations and taxes that "impede development" of new energy sources
Maintains that the "key to sound environmental policy" is strict enforcement of property rights
Supports drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Co-sponsored legislation to encourage development of alternative energy sources
EDUCATION
Supports abolishing U.S. Education Department
Supports funding schools with local taxes
Introduced legislation to create a tax credit of up to $5,000 per student per year for elementary and / or secondary schools -- including private, parochial, religious and home schools
Introduced legislation to make undergraduate college tuition, "reasonable" living expenses and interest on qualified student loans fully tax-deductible
ABORTION
Believes Roe v. Wade should be overturned
Believes states should have authority over abortion issues
Sponsored legislation that would prohibit federal courts from interfering with state abortion legislation
GUN CONTROL
Opposes federal gun-control laws
Opposes reinstituting assault-weapons ban; sponsored legislation to repeal assault-weapons ban before it expired in 2004
Sponsored legislation to allow individuals to carry firearms in national parks
DEMOCRATS
HILLARY CLINTON
ECONOMY
Supports $110 billion economic stimulus plan, including $40 billion in tax rebates for working-class and middle-class families; $30 billion in emergency housing aid for states and cities; $25 billion for families facing increased heating bills; and $10 billion to extend and broaden unemployment insurance
Supports 90-day foreclosure moratorium on subprime mortgages on owneroccupied homes
Supports five-year rate freeze on subprime adjustable rate mortgages
Supports more than $10 billion in infrastructure funding for states
IRAQ
Voted to authorize Iraq invasion in 2002
Supports a three-step plan to end the war: begin phased troop withdrawal within 60 days in office; redeploy some troops to ensure regional stability; convene a group of key allies, global powers and states bordering Iraq to stabilize the region
NATIONAL SECURITY
Supports modernizing and reforming U.S. intelligence services
Supports strengthening and rebuilding alliances in Europe; proposes partnerships in Asia and other areas of the world
Supports reinforcing military efforts in Afghanistan
Maintains that a strong military is essential for national security
Supports closing Guantanamo prison
HEALTH CARE
Supports requiring all individuals to have coverage
Supports requiring large employers to provide coverage or pay into a public program
Supports a tax credit to businesses with 25 or fewer employees
Supports tax credits to working families
Supports a public / private pool of plans similar to those Congress members have
IMMIGRATION
Supports pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who learn English and pay fines
Supports border fence
Supports employment verification system, along with tougher penalties for employers that hire illegal immigrants
Supports family reunification as basic immigration principle
Supports agricultural jobs program but opposes guest-worker plan that might exploit workers
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Supports cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050
Supports 10-year, $150 billion energy package, including $50 billion strategic energy fund to develop alternative energy sources
Supports increasing fuel-efficiency standards to 55 miles per gallon by 2030
Supports a transition to renewable-energy sources
EDUCATION
Supports universal preschool and doubling after-school programs
Supports ending No Child Left Behind law
Supports investing $100 million in new public / private summer internship program
Supports $3,500 college tax credit and bigger Pell Grants
Supports investing $500 million in community colleges
Supports $10,000 college scholarships for those who participate in AmeriCorps for a year
ABORTION
Supports abortion rights
Supports appointing justices who will uphold Roe v. Wade and right to privacy
GUN CONTROL
Voted for ban on assault-type weapons and to require background checks at gun shows
Supported leaving gun-makers open to civil suits
Supported, in 2000, proposals for a federal requirement for state-issued photo-ID gun licenses, as well as a national registry for handgun sales
BARACK OBAMA
ECONOMY
Supports $120 billion economic stimulus package, including immediate $250 tax credit for 150 million workers and further $250 tax credit per worker if employment declines three months in a row; $250 payment to Social Security recipients and additional $250 payment if employment declines three months in a row; $10 billion "foreclosure prevention fund"; $10 billion to help states and local governments hit hardest by the housing crisis; $10 billion to extend and broaden unemployment insurance
Supports a mortgage interest tax credit for filers who don't itemize
IRAQ
Opposed invading Iraq
Has voted in Senate to authorize war funding
Supports full withdrawal of combat brigades within 16 months; supports leaving some troops to protect diplomats and keep al-Qaida from gaining "foothold"
Opposes permanent military bases in Iraq
NATIONAL SECURITY
Supports improving intelligence information-sharing and analysis at all levels of government
Supports expanding U.S. diplomatic presence in the world, strengthening NATO and seeking new partnerships in Asia
Supports expanding the military, adding 65,000 to the Army and 27,000 to the Marines
Supports revising Patriot Act
Supports closing Guantanamo prison
HEALTH CARE
Supports requiring parents to obtain coverage for children
Supports requiring all employers to provide coverage or contribute to costs, except smallest businesses
Supports subsidies for low- income people
Supports national health plan to allow individuals to buy coverage similar to that of congressional members, plus a national pool of private plans
IMMIGRATION
Supports pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants in good standing who learn English and pay fines
Supports border fence and more personnel to secure borders
Supports tougher penalties for employers that hire illegal immigrants; supports employment verification system
Supports emphasis on keeping immigrant families together
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Supports market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050
Supports investing $150 billion over 10 years in "clean" energy sources
Supports requiring that 25 percent of electricity be generated by renewable energy sources by 2025
Supports doubling fuel-efficiency standards by 2026
EDUCATION
Supports quadrupling Early Head Start program; increasing Head Start funding
Supports reforming No Child Left Behind law
Supports teacher service scholarships that would cover four years of undergraduate or two years of graduate teacher education in exchange for teaching at least four years in a high-need field or location
Supports $4,000 college education tax credit
ABORTION
Supports abortion rights; would make "preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as president"
GUN CONTRO
Voted to leave gun-makers open to lawsuits
Supported, as an Illinois state legislator, a ban on all forms of semiautomatic weapons and tighter state restrictions on firearms in general