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Primary
Reasoning
Metroland’s
round-up of the presidential candidates—where they stand on
the issues, who gives them their money, and why anyone should
vote for them
By
Chet Hardin and David King
Democrats
Barack
Obama
Senator
from Illinois
Experience
Obama
was an Illinois state senator from 1997 to 2004. He is currently
in his first term as a United States Senator. Before taking
any office, Obama worked as a community organizer and used
his Harvard law degree in discrimination and voting-rights
cases.
On
the Issues
Obama
has strongly advocated strengthening the financial safety
net for America’s working class by increasing government programs
to assist them. He has proposed a tax plan that would eliminate
taxes for the elderly. Obama has put forward a 16-month withdrawal
plan for Iraq; according to his plan, each month a brigade
would return home.
Beholden
to
Obama
has received large donations from the Exelon Corporation,
the country’s largest nuclear-plant operator. He has also
received large donations from the banking and investment sector,
including Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley. The
largest block of donors to Obama’s campaign consists of lawyers
and law firms.
The
Polls Say
Obama
is currently trailing Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) in national
polls; however, his recent win in Iowa could lead to a surge
in upcoming primaries as well as in national polling.
Electability
Some
have predicted that Obama will have a hard time being universally
appealing because of his race. Opponents of Obama on both
the left and the right have tried to falsely associate him
with Muslim interests, but judging by the Iowa Democratic
caucus, which Obama dominated handily, he can overcome any
hang-ups voters might have about him. However, even in the
most liberal states, racism remains a large hurdle for Obama
to overcome. Obama has been hailed by conservative pundit
George Will as the only adult in the race, from either party.
What
His Presidency Would Look Like
Obama
promises a “transformation” with his first day in office.
While Obama’s social programs are a little more far-reaching
and progressive than that of Sen. Clinton or former Sen. Edwards,
his stance on foreign policy seems fairly in line with that
of his Democratic opponents; Obama advocates diplomacy, but
does not rule out military action against countries like Iran
and Pakistan.
Hillary
Clinton
Senator
from New York and former first lady
Experience
Clinton
has served a little over one term as senator from New York.
Prior to her run for the U.S. Senate seat, Clinton served
as first lady of Arkansas for more than a decade and spent
two terms as first lady in the White House. Clinton was, notoriously,
tasked with coming up with a national health-care plan, but
that failed to make it through Congress.
On
the Issues
During
the early part of her time in the Senate, Clinton supported
the foreign policy of the Bush administration and voted to
authorize the Iraq war. Since public opinion has swayed against
the war, Clinton has been critical of the Bush administration’s
tactics in Iraq.
Beholden
to
Clinton’s
largest corporate donors include financial giants DLA Piper,
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. Other large donors include
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., as well as a number of influential
media giants.
The
Polls Say
Clinton
is still in the lead nationally, and her upset victory in
New Hampshire puts her back at the head of the pack.
Electability
Clinton
is undeniably one of the most divisive figures in modern politics.
With her husband’s legacy always at her back (as well at most
times her husband), Clinton has struggled to find her own
identity. Clinton comes off at times as starchy and strict,
other times as unable to fill the vacuum of the rooms she
speaks in. Clinton has struggled to slag Obama rather than
form her own message. Before a crowd in New Hampshire recently,
she accused Obama of “raising false hopes in our country about
what can be delivered.”
What
Her Presidency Would Look Like
It
would be easy to surmise that a Hillary Clinton presidency
would look like much like her husband’s but without all that
exciting affair/scandal stuff. More likely it would be similar
to Bill’s presidency in that Clinton would sway with public
opinion in a very centrist direction. Her time in the Senate
and refusal to be pegged on many issues is a good indicator.
John
Edwards
Former
senator from North Carolina
Experience
Edwards
was a trial lawyer before serving a six-year term representing
North Carolina in the U.S. Senate. Edwards was nominated as
the Democratic vice-presidential candidate in 2004, and ran
an unsuccessful campaign with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). Edwards
has effectively been campaigning for his party’s nomination
in 2008 since his loss in 2004.
On
the Issues
Originally
rather hawkish regarding the Iraq war, Edwards cosponsored
a bill with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) in 2002 that would
have authorized war with Iraq. That bill never came to a vote,
but Edwards did vote for the resolution that eventually authorized
the war. Edwards has since defended his vote, saying he made
the decision on the information he had at the time. Edwards
has run his campaign on a rather populist platform, advocating
universal health care, eliminating poverty and fighting global
warming.
Beholden
to
Although
Edwards’ largest donor base comes from law firms and lawyers,
his second largest group of donors is Democratic PACs and
retired people. Republicans have criticized Edwards for being
indebted to trial lawyers.
The
Polls Say
Edwards
has maintained a fairly steady third-place showing in most
national polls, but as Obama has gained ground on Clinton,
his numbers have tended to slip.
Electability
Edwards
has been steadily campaigning since his failed run in 2004,
and, as the standard Southern white male, Edwards was thought
to stand a chance to upset Clinton and Obama because he fits
the demographic mold of the last two Democratic presidents.
However, Edwards has alienated himself from centrist Democrats
by steadily growing more aggressive, vowing to fight corporate
interests and even gaining the endorsement of Ralph Nader.
What
His Presidency Would Look Like
Promising
a New Deal-like package of reforms and programs, if he delivers,
an Edwards’ presidency might be the most progressive of all
the candidates. Edwards has pledged to fund universal kindergarten
and raise the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, and has said
he would create matching savings accounts for low-income citizens.
Edwards has also admitted he would likely raise taxes.
Bill
Richardson
Governor
of New Mexico, former congressman and ambassador to the United
Nations
Experience
Having
served for 14 years in Congress, as secretary of energy under
President Bill Clinton, and as ambassador to the United Nations,
in addition to his nearly six years as governor of New Mexico,
Richardson is the most experienced politician running for
the Democratic nomination.
On
the Issues
Richardson
advocates pulling all troops out of Iraq as soon as possible.
Like a number of his fellow candidates, Richardson advocates
using more diplomacy in tandem with the military to fight
terrorism. Richardson has been lauded for successfully expanding
access to health care for children and balancing the state
budget as governor.
Beholden
to
Richardson’s
largest donations have come from employees of the State of
New Mexico and the University of New Mexico along with Democratic
PACs.
The
Polls Say
In
October, Comedy Central faux pundit Stephen Colbert, who briefly
tossed his hat into the presidential arena in South Carolina,
was polling ahead of Richardson. Richardson, however, has
picked up steam since then and has steadily placed fourth
behind Edwards.
Electability
Although
Richardson has more political experience than the three candidates
who are ahead in the polls, he has had difficulty selling
it.
What
His Presidency Would Look Like
Richardson
could be a wise, fair-handed president who excels at foreign
policy, and would be fiscally responsible. So he most likely
will not be elected.
Dennis
Kucinich
Ohio
congressman and former mayor of Cleveland
Experience
Kucinich
served three years as mayor of Cleveland and 10 years in Congress.
Kucinich ran an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2004.
On
the Issues
Kucinich
is staunchly opposed to the war in Iraq and has consistently
voted against funding the war. Kucinich would like to withdraw
from NAFTA and advocates universal health care.
Beholden
to
The
largest block of donors to the Kucinich campaign are individuals.
He has also received a great amount of funding from labor
PACs.
The
Polls Say
Nothing
Kucinich would like to hear.
Electability
Although
Kucinich has a proven progressive record, he also has a few
quirks . . . like his claims to have seen a UFO.
What
His Presidency Would Look Like
Flying
pigs take to the sky as we all celebrate on the Good Ship
Lollypop.
Republicans
Rudy
Giuliani
Former
mayor of New York City
Experience
He
began his public career in the office of the United States
attorney and worked his way up the justice system to be appointed
associate attorney general by President Ronald Reagan. He
also served as the United States attorney for the Southern
District. He served two terms as mayor of New York City.
On
the Issues
He
breaks with the traditional Republican stance on abortion
and gun control, citing strict gun legislation in New York
City as one of the major factors in reducing crime while he
was mayor. An apparent neoconservative in foreign-policy matters,
he takes every opportunity to ape the Bush administration’s
rhetoric about the global war against terrorism and the need
to maintain, and enhance, the current aggressions; he has
named a former Bush speech writer, David Frum, and Norman
Podhertz, both of whom advocate the bombing of Iran, as his
foreign policy advisers.
Beholden
to
Securities
and investment firms top Giuliani’s donor list, having contributed
$4.5 million, with lawyers and law firms coming in second
with $3.2 million, and the retired trailing with $3.1 million.
Electability
9/11.
He is America’s mayor. Those images of him standing atop the
rubble of the Twin Towers were seared into everyone’s TV screens
for months and years. And the chances are, if you are talking
to him, or listening to him speak, the subject will come up.
9/11. Almost like a nervous tick. 9/11. But the mythmaking
has worked. He has a strong base of support in some of the
most important states—California, New York, New Jersey, and
Florida—but lags behind former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee
and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the Midwestern
and Southern states. His stance on particular social issues,
and his own tumultuous private life, don’t play well in the
Bible Belt. He has yet to win a primary race. 9/11.
The
Polls Say
Early
favorite, leading in every national and local poll during
the months that lead up to the primaries and is still the
clear leader in many local polls. However, he has a fight
ahead in South Carolina and Michigan, and in national polls
he comes in third behind Huckabee and Romney. In head-to-head
polls against Democrats, he narrowly loses out to Clinton
and Edwards, but gets stomped by Obama.
What
His Presidency Would Look Like
Neocon
wet dream: To quote one of his campaign’s New Hampshire leaders,
“I don’t subscribe to the principle that there are good Muslims
and bad Muslims. They’re all Muslims.” Pre-9/11, Giuliani
was noted for “cleaning up” New York City by pushing the poor
out of the city and by ushering in the Disneyfication of Times
Square. He also launched a personal crusade against the Brooklyn
Art Museum for hosting a painting covered in elephant dung,
so expect a lot of self-righteous posturing and attacks on
free speech from this administration. 9/11.
Dr.
Ron Paul
Representative
from Texas
Experience
A
successful ob/gyn doctor, Paul has served nearly 18 years
in three periods in the House of Representatives. He made
an unsuccessful bid for the presidency on the Libertarian
line in 1988.
On
the Issues
Paul
wants to deconstruct the federal government and the reassert
states’ power. What the hell does that mean? If elected, he
would abolish income tax, strip the FBI and CIA of much of
their power or nullify them completely, eliminate the Federal
Reserve, rescind the Patriot Act, and withdraw the United
States from the United Nations, NAFTA, and the World Trade
Organization. He opposes the War on Drugs, believes that marriage
and primary education ought not be government regulated, that
the death penalty should be abolished, and that we should
withdraw from Iraq immediately.
Beholden
to
With
nearly $20 million raised, the retired top his list of donors,
with Internet companies coming in second. Google tops the
list of his corporate donors with $22,000, but the majority
of his money has come from private individuals.
Electability
Paul’s
beliefs resonate with a vast, disparate grouping of populations—state-rights’
advocates, antiwar activists, free-market capitalists, the
paranoid, and Midwestern militias. So there’s that. And he
has made history with his one-day fundraising surges: $4.2
million one day and nearly $6 million on another. And although
he stands little chance in his presidential bid, he did come
in fifth in the Iowa caucuses, beating out Giuliani.
What
the Polls Say
He
is coming in dead last in every local and national poll.
What
His Presidency Would Look Like
Well,
since we’re talking crazy: Ideologues have overthrown the
power structure of the day. Fifty autonomous, highly-militarized
states fight to fill the void left by the dissolved federal
government. Order can only be restored by strong-arm tactics
and militaristic authoritarianism. Think 1923 Russia, except
this time around, the revolutionaries will be shouting feeble
slogans based not on the writings of a Prussian economist,
but an Austrian one.
Mitt
Romney
Former
governor of Massachusetts
Experience
A
hugely successful businessman, Romney made millions as the
CEO of Bains & Company and cofounder of Bains Capital,
an investment firm. He made an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate
in 1994. He was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2003,
and chose not to seek reelection.
On
the Issues
On
most issues, Romney differs only slightly from his opponents.
It is on health care that he walks a tightrope. In 2006, as
governor, he championed and signed into law a health-care
plan that Republican critics blasted for increasing government
oversight by imposing penalties on anyone who fails to sign
up for insurance. It also provides low-cost insurance to healthy
people, similar to Clinton’s 1993 health-care plan, a favorite
target of conservatives at the time. However, Romney the candidate
has attempted to distance himself from this plan, calling
for a free-market-based system that does not include a mandate.
Beholden
To
The
retired and investment bankers have come out in droves for
Romney, but Romney tops his own list; considering that he
has loaned his own campaign $17.4 million—28 percent of the
total he has raised—it is safe to say that he is most beholden
to himself.
What
The Polls Say
Other
than in Michigan, where he pulls off a victory, and South
Carolina, where he squeaks out a second-place showing after
Huckabee, Romney rarely breaks away from a third-place showing
in local polls. National polls place him fourth after Sen.
John McCain (R-Ariz.), Giuliani, and Huckabee. Head-to-head
polls show him losing to each Democratic frontrunner.
Electability
Long
shot: Romney came into the primaries with the largest war
chest, having banked more than $62 million, but he polls poorly,
came in second in both New Hampshire and Iowa, and has picked
up the derisive label “flip-flopper.” Much has been made of
his Mormonism, but it has yet to show whether or not that
has hurt him.
What
His Presidency Would Look Like
The
era of big government masquerading as Republican reform would
continue unchecked.
Mike
Huckabee
Former
governor of Arkansas
Experience
Huckabee,
a Baptist preacher, was elected lieutenant governor of Arkansas
in 1993 in a special election, and was reelected to a second
term in 1994. In 1996, he won the gubernatorial election,
and has served two terms. Before that, he made an unsuccessful
bid for the U.S. Senate.
On
the Issues
He
takes a disturbing, hawkish stance on foreign policy. In an
interview with the Concord Monitor, he said, “We need
to understand that this is, in fact, World War III.” To this
end, he views the war in Iraq as a necessity to stave off
the threat of an Islamic caliphate emerging in the Middle
East and bringing death to every American. He calls for sanctions
against Iran and military action. Domestically, he is softer
on immigration then his opponents, endorsing a plan to allow
immigrants into the country, but does support building a fence
along the border. On abortion, gay marriage, the death penalty
and gun control, he falls in line with the Republican masses.
Beholden
to
He
has raised nearly $8 million, with the retired and real-estate
interests doling out the most sizable donations.
The
Polls Say
His
early victory in Iowa helped him little in the polls. Most
national and local polls have him trailing Giuliani and Sen.
McCain. He is, however, polling high in South Carolina. Head-to-head
polls have him losing soundly against the Democratic frontrunners.
What
His Presidency Would Look Like
He
tells reporters that the global war on terror “must be understood
in the theological context,” and that he wants to “take the
country back for Christ.” He calls Guantanamo Bay a distraction,
supports extreme interrogation tactics and the Military Commissions
Act, and the expansion of government surveillance. It would
be like if Bush went back on the blow.
John
McCain
Senator
from Arizona
Experience
A
four-term Senator, McCain also spent two terms in the House
of Representatives. He was a naval aviator during the Vietnam
War and survived five years in a prisoner-of-war camp.
On
the Issues
You
will now hear his supporters referring to the 2007 troop surge
in Iraq as the “McCain surge,” an attempt to highlight his
relatively moderate (relative to Giuliani, et al.) stance
on foreign policy. Though he still supports the war in Iraq,
he has called it mismanaged. He voted twice against the Bush
tax cuts, saying that he would only vote for them if they
were coupled with decreased spending, but eventually voted
to extend them. Viewed as one of the more liberal Republican
Senators, he opposes extreme interrogation techniques, supports
gun control and a path to legalization for illegal immigrants.
Beholden
to
The
retired dig McCain, topping his donor’s list with $3.1 million,
followed by the investment bankers, lawyers and, with $1.6
million, real-estate firms.
Electability
His
candidacy flagged this summer; the Washington “maverick” laid
off staffers and struggled to make fundraising goals. But
with his win in New Hampshire, the state he carried in the
2000 primaries, McCain got a much-needed boost.
The
Polls Say
Most
local polls have McCain trailing a distant fourth. National
polls, however, show him breathing down frontrunner Huckabee’s
neck. The head-to-head polls are very interesting: He crushes
Clinton, ties against Obama and loses to Edwards.
What
His Presidency Would Look Like
A
kinder, gentler Bush administration.
Fred
Thompson
Former
senator from Tennessee
Experience
Played
counsel on the Senate Watergate Committee, performed two stints
on the floor of the U.S. Senate, and appeared in a reoccurring
role on Law and Order.
On
the Issues
Reads
from the Republican script.
Beholden
to
NBC.
Electability
Only
in the movies.
The
Polls Say
Call
your agent.
What
His Presidency Would Look Like
Die
Hard 2: Die Harder.
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