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	THE CANDIDATE	RON PAUL	MITT ROMNEY	JOHN MCCAIN	MIKE HUCKABEE
	WEBSITE	ronpaul2008.com	mittromney.com	johnmccain.com	mikehuckabee.com
	BACKGROUND	U.S. congressman from Texas since 1997. Also served in Congress in 1970s and 1980s.	Governor of Massachusetts from 2002 to 2006. President of committee for 2002 Winter Olympics.	U.S. senator from Arizona since 1986, VIetnam veteran and prisoner of war.	Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007, former pastor.
	ISSUE: IRAQ WAR	Has consistently opposed the war and says U.S. must stop engaging in police actions in other nations.	Favors continuing the war and opposes any timetable for troop withdrawal. Supported the 2007 troop surge.	Wants to send more troops to Iraq to ensure prolonged success and to implement strategies that stabilize the country.	Calls the conflict a “battle” in America’s war on terror and opposes a timetable for withdrawal.
	ISSUE: ECONOMY & TAXES	Supports low taxes and low federal spending. Rather than overhauling the tax system, he says Congress should simply cut taxes and not replace them.	Wants to establish strict spending limits. Proposes lower corporate and income taxes across the board; the repeal of the estate tax; and the extension of Bush tax cuts.	Would stimulate the American economy by cutting taxes. Would reduce the corporate tax rate, repeal the alternative minimum tax, and make it more difficult to raise taxes.	Wants to abolish federal income and payroll taxes and implement a “fair tax” based on consumption rather than income.
	ISSUE: EDUCATION	Wants to abolish the U.S. Department of Education and return its function to the states. Supports tax credits to allow parents to spend more on their children’s education.	Supports the No Child Left Behind but believes the education system works best when citizens have local control. Advocates school choice and charter schools.	Advocates school choice and supports the No Child Left Behind Act.	Supports home schooling and charter schools and arts education. Sees value in the No Child Left Behind Act but believes states should be able to set their own benchmarks.
	ISSUE: ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT	Says strict enforcement of property rights could solve pollution problems. Opposes the Kyoto Protocol but believes in the hazards of climate change.	Wants to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Opposes the Kyoto Protocol unless it includes developing countries such as China and India.	Wants to limit carbon emissions through incentives for technologies such as nuclear energy and to reduce dependence on foreign supplies of energy.	Wants a research and development budget to invest in alternative fuels and make America less beholden to foreign oil and create jobs.
	ISSUE: HEALTH CARE	Says all medical expenses should be tax deductible and advocates health savings accounts.	Opposes a one-size-fits-all health care system run by the government and encourages deregulation of the private health insurance market.	Would promote competition among insurance providers and support the creation of safe and cheaper generic drugs.	Opposes universal health care, preferring a system in which Americans have more control. Advocates private-sector measures to control costs.
	ISSUE: IMMIGRATION	Wants to secure borders and coastlines before adopting immigration reform. Opposes amnesty, welfare and birthright citizenship to illegal immigrants.	Wants to build a fence along the southern border. Advocates a tamperproof ID card for non-citizens and a national database to verify the legal status of immigrants.	Wants to secure the border, strengthen alliances with Mexico and Latin America and ensure immigrants learn English, American history and democratic principles.	Advocates a nine-point plan that emphasizes a fence along the U.S./Mexico border, increased border patrols and opposition to amnesty.