Select2008 Blog - Comparing and tracking the 2008 presidential candidates

The War in Iraq and the War on Terrorism have been looming large over the primaries and presidential campaign.

Interestingly, extremist and populist positions, such as leaving Iraq within 6 months, have vanished. The controversy now focuses on how best to stabilize Iraq, draw down the number of U.S. troops deployed over there, and adjust military expenses to new economic realities.

As for the War on Terrorism, closing the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and banning torture in counter-insurgency and intelligence activities draw the most controversy.

The following sample is based on over 450,000 votes on Select2008.com over the last few weeks:

- 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 - 48% agree and 43% disagree

- Reduce the U.S. military budget - 49% agree and 43% disagree

- The U.S. is making progress in Iraq - 39% agree and 50% disagree

- Increase U.S. aid to Iraqi refugees- 39% agree and 42% disagree

- Support indefinite incarceration in Guantanamo Bay for terrorists - 39% agree and 46% disagree

- The U.S. Congress should stop funding the war in Iraq - 54% agree and 39% disagree

- Ban the use of torture by American intelligence and law enforcement officers - 51% agree and 38% disagree

Popularity: 29% [?]

Ahead of the Super-Tuesday primaries contest of next week, we have tracked down the five key international issues on which Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama disagree:

- Defense: the candidates disagree on the size of the necessary increase of the U.S. military and veterans healthcare benefits funding;

- Foreign affairs: Clinton and Obama have strongly disagreed on several foreign affairs-related issues; Obama stated his support in favor of talking with leaders of ‘rogue‘ nations without preconditions; Clinton supported the Senate resolution on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, while Obama asserted that the Senate resolution on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was paving the path for a military engagement with Iran; the two candidates also disagree on normalizing relations with Cuba and having the U.S. join the International Criminal Court;

- Free trade: Free trade was a divisive issue during the primaries campaign, as candidates faced the softening economy; although both candidates supported the Peru free trade agreement, they disagree on key free trade issues: negotiate new free trade agreements and renegotiate NAFTA;

- War in Iraq: Clinton and Obama have had differences over the War in Iraq from the onset back in 2002; the two candidates also disagree on the way forward on Iraq, either by federalizing Iraq along sectarian lines, or by following the conclusions from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, as well as the size and mission of the U.S. “residual” force in Iraq;

- War on terrorism: Obama made a strongly dissenting point against the rest of the candidates’ field by ruling out using nuclear weapons against terrorist leaders like Osama Bin Laden, while other candidates refused to discuss it;

Popularity: 57% [?]

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: 33% [?]

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: 18% [?]