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  Which candidate would make the best US President?

ProCon.org has researched the US Presidential candidates and their views on 68 issues ranging from abortion to global warming to the war in Iraq. Read our simple, nonpartisan, pro-con presentations and decide for yourself: "Which candidate would make the best President?"
Only to Election Day: November 4

2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES - BIOS AND VIEWS
(alphabetical order by party)
Democratic Party
Republican Party
3rd Parties / Independents



Obama, Barack

&



McCain, John
&



Baldwin, Chuck (Cst.)



Barr, Bob (Lib.)

Biden, Joe


Palin, Sarah


McKinney, Cynthia (Grn.)

Nader, Ralph (Ind.)

CANDIDATE VIEWS BY ISSUE
(alphabetical order)

Abortion
 1. Legal option
 2. Parental Consent

Character
 3. Honesty vs. competence

China
 4. Threat to US?
 5. Human Rights

Criminal Justice
 6. Felon Voting
 7. Rehab vs. incarceration

Cuba
 8. Embargo

Darfur
 9. Genocide

Death Penalty
 10. Legal option

Defense
 11. Missile defense shield

District of Columbia
 12. Statehood

Economy
 13. Outsourcing jobs
 14. Free trade regulations
 15. NAFTA

Education
 16. No Child Left Behind
 17. Increasing costs
 18. School vouchers
 19. Abstinence only

Election Reform
 20. Paper trails
 21. Campaign contributions
 22. Public financing

Eminent Domain
 23. Non-public use

Energy
 24. ANWR drilling
 25. Price of US gasoline
 26. Offshore drilling
 27. Nuclear plants
 28. Ethanol subsidies

Environment
 29. International agreements
 30. Fuel efficiency
 31. Global climate change

Gun Control
 32. Federal regulations

Health Care
 33. Subsidized care
 34. Prescription options
 35. Fast food and obesity

Immigration
 36. Net impact on economy
 37. Rights and benefits
 38. US-Mexico fence

Iran
 39. US military force

Iraq War
 40. Was the attack a mistake?
 41. Is America safer?
 42. Withdrawal timetable

Israel
 43. Military and economic aid

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
 44. Hamas
 45. Palestine

Kosovo
 46. Independence

Marriage
 47. Constitutional amendment
 48. Infidelity

Media
 49. Protecting sources

Medical Marijuana
 50. Legalization
 51. Raids

National ID
 52. National ID card

National Service
 53. Draft
 54. Gays in the military
 55. Mandatory service

Presidential Power
 56. Line item veto
 57. Unitary executive theory

Religion
 58. Faith-based funding
 59. Importance to voters

Social Security
 60. Privatizing

Stem Cells
 61. Federal funding

Taxes
 62. Bush tax cuts

Turkey
 63. Entering Iraq

US Constitution
 64. Alteration

War on Terror
 65. Waterboarding
 66. Guantanamo Bay
 67. PATRIOT Act
 68. Warrantless wiretapping


NEWS AND NOTICES
(archived after 30 days)

10/3/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 Candidate Survey - Answer a series of questions to find the right 2008 presidential candidate for you.

10/3/2008   - UPDATED: Candidate Debates - Read the transcript from the first and only multi-party 2008 vice-presidential candidate debate.

10/3/2008 - ProCon.org User Survey passes 1,000 responses.  See the survey results so far

10/2/2008  - UPDATED: Cynthia McKinney - Read the Green Party nominee's current positions on seven issues including abstinence, obesity, and social security.

9/30/2008  - NEW: Read the candidates' positions on three new questions:

  1. Should the US permit more offshore drilling to increase domestic energy supplies?
  2. Should the US build additional nuclear plants?
  3. Should the private ethanol industry be subsidized by the federal government?

9/30/2008 – ProCon.org received two more media mentions last week.  Visit our In the News page to see our latest media references.

9/25/2008  - UPDATED: US Political Parties - Read the 2008 platforms, history, and mission statements of six United States political parties.

9/23/2008  - NEW: How to Register to Vote – Learn how to register and find answers to seven frequently asked questions about voter registration before it is too late to vote on Election Day this Nov. 4, 2008.

9/18/2008 - UPDATED: Read Sarah Palin and Joe Biden's position statements on 24 issues including abortion, death penalty, gun control, Iran, Iraq, and waterboarding.

9/12/2008  – UPDATED: Candidate Positions on 65 Issues: A Side by Side Comparison – This summary chart includes current views from Obama, McCain, and third party/independent presidential candidates.

Archived News and Notices (archived after 30 days)