Select2008 Blog - Comparing and tracking the 2008 presidential candidates

Ahead of the 2008 South Carolina primaries, today’s top five hottest questions highlight voters’ concerns with traditional social issues (such as gun control), the war in Iraq and on terrorism, and socio-economic concerns related to the government’s involvement in healthcare and education matters.

The top five hottest questions are:

- Congress should authorize any preemptive attack in the war on terrorism

- Create a tax credit to cover for the educational expenses of parents who decide to home school their children

- Maintain a residual U.S. force in Iraq to conduct targeted counter-terrorism operations, to keep Iraq‘s neighbors in check, and to train Iraqi forces

- Allow States to devise their own path to universal healthcare

- Support restrictions to the right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms under the Second Amendment

Looking at the top 50 hottest questions, the most disputed issues in this 2008 primaries season currently regard:

- Universal healthcare

- War on terrorism

- Taxes

- Second Amendment rights

- Immigration reform

Popularity: 30% [?]

Today’s top five hottest questions are:

- Lower corporate taxes from 35% to 27%

- Strengthen tax incentives for extending broadband Internet to underserved areas

- Oppose photo ID requirements to vote, because they disproportionately disenfranchise the poor, disabled and minority voters

- Expand affordable housing

- Congress should authorize any preemptive attack in the war on terrorism

Seeing the most selective and divisive issues for the 2008 elections gradually bubble up is a fascinating process of real time democracy!

Popularity: 16% [?]

The Peace Conference in Annapolis has heightened the sense of urgency on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Support for Israel is unanimous among candidates, albeit with different levels of intensity. Clinton (D), Giuliani (R), McCain (R), and Obama (D) have all demanded that Palestinian leaders commit to fight terrorism and live in peace with Israel.

However, support for peace negotiations and support for a two-state outcome cut across party lines and spark contrasting views.

Giuliani (R), McCain (R)and Thompson (R) have posed two conditions for initiating negotiations with Palestinians: (i) recognition of Israel, and (ii) commitment to fight terrorism.

Edwards (D), Obama (D), and Richardson (D) have committed to become directly engaged in negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Only Obama (D), Richardson (D) and Thompson (R) have expressly committed to a two-state outcome, while Edwards (D) described the two-state outcome as a goal worth making a “serious effort to achieve.”

Biden (D), Clinton (D), Dodd (D), and McCain (R) have all co-sponsored in 2006 the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, which expressed support for a two-state solution.

Nonetheless, Clinton (D) has lately promised neither personal involvement in peacemaking nor committed to a two-state outcome.

Huckabee (R) has just expressed doubts about the viability of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine on CNN. Romney (R) has mainly focused his attention on Iran in political addresses to the Jewish community.

You can cast your votes on the U.S. support to Israel, the importance of peace in the Middle East, and the path towards peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Popularity: 33% [?]