| Hillary Clinton | Barack Obama | Mitt Romney | John McCain | |
| Issue Iraq War |
Voted in favour of Congress’s 2002 resolution to send troops to Iraq, but has since urged Bush administration to end war. Says she would start bringing troops home within 60 days of becoming president. | Declares himself anti-war, but voted against a 2006 resolution for withdrawal of troops. Has also voted to continue funding the occupation. Now advocates removal of all troops by 2010. | A consistent supporter of the war, he wants to increase the US troop presence in Iraq. | Believes that “long-term success in Iraq” is still possible and supports deployment of additional troops. |
| Terrorism | Supported Patriot Act 2001, granting security services greater powers over terror suspects; 2006 reauthorisation; and legislation in 2004 that facilitated sharing of information between security agencies. | Voted to reauthorise the Patriot Act in 2006, but opposed the Military Commissions Act 2006, which granted additional powers (including removal of habeas corpus) over detainees in Guantanamo Bay. | Has vocally and consistently supported the Patriot Act. Wants to develop an international “Partnership for Progress and Prosperity” to spread democratic values and institutions throughout the Muslim world. | Echoes the current administration’s rhetoric about the “war on terror”. In 2004, said he would increase funding for the military and the CIA. |
| Immigration | Supports the possibility of legal status for 12 million illegal immigrants. | Wants to create secure borders, but does not support mass deportation. Aims to promote economic development in Mexico to decrease illegal immigration. | Has made “ending the tide of illegal immigration” a priority, and vehemently opposes “any legislation that allows illegal immigrants to stay in the country indefinitely”. | Sees border security as a priority, and opposes any welfare benefits being provided to illegal immigrants. |
| Economy | Advocates tax cuts for the middle classes and reduced college fees. | Believes that “the free market has been the engine of America’s great progress” and supports tax cuts for the middle classes. | Believes in the free market; supports broad tax cuts and curbs on federal spending. | Proposes large cuts to corporate tax rates, and would repeal taxes whose main impact is on the middle classes. |
| Climate change | Supports an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 and advocates a $50bn Strategic Energy Fund to help transition to an energyefficient economy. | Supports an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. Would consider banning new coal-fired power stations. | No stated position on carbon emissions. Supports coal-fired energy. | Supports a 65 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. |
| Religion | An active member of her Methodist church since childhood, she has spoken of her desire to “inject faith into policy”. | In 2006 called for faith-specific values to be jettisoned from public debate. Muslim father, but now a “devout” evangelical Christian. | Mormon. Has tried to allay fears about his religion, which many evangelicals view as anti- Christian. Religious conviction “will inform my presidency”. | Baptist. In 2007 he said he would prefer to see a Christian in the White House. |