Two Democrats and three Republicans are grabbing public attention on "Super Tuesday" when they run for presidential candidacy in 24 states and American Samoa on Feb. 5.
The following are their positions on different issues concerned by most U.S. Democratic and/or Republican voters. (Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by party.)
Economic stimulus measures and long-term strategy:
Democratic:
Clinton, Hillary:
She has proposed a 110-billion-U.S.-dollar plan to "jump-start" the economy by providing tax rebates of 250 dollars for low- and middle-income taxpayers. She has also asked to suspend President George W. Bush's tax cuts for households earning more than 250,000dollars.
Obama, Barack:
He has proposed a 250-dollar tax rebate to low- and middle-income taxpayers and another 250-dollar in bonuses to Social Security retirement benefit recipients. He also agrees to repeal the Bush tax cuts for households earning more than 250,000 dollars.
Republican:
Huckabee, Mike:
He is an advocate for the "fair tax" -- a 23 percent national sales tax on everything except education, and has called for elimination of all federal income and payroll taxes.
McCain, John:
He has proposed to make the Bush tax cuts permanent and eliminate the alternative minimum tax. He also backs reducing the corporate tax rate to 25 percent, leaving more money for companies to invest in equipment and technology.
Romney, Mitt:
He raised a 233 billion-dollar stimulus package including individual income tax rebates and reduced 10 percent income bracket to 7.5 percent. He supports permanent tax cuts implemented by the Bush administration and backs cutting corporate tax rates to 20 percent.
Iraq:
Clinton:
In 2002, she voted in the Senate to authorize the U.S. military invasion of Iraq, but is now opposed to a troop increase and has promised to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq gradually within 60days of becoming president, with the goal of withdrawing most troops by the end of 2013.
Obama:
He objected to the invasion of Iraq from the very beginning and is opposed to a troop increase now. He has also vowed to withdraw one or two brigades a month and finish the process within 16 months, should he be elected.
Huckabee:
He supported the invasion of Iraq and applauded the tentative troop increase. He is against a timetable for troop withdrawals.
McCain:
He once voted for the invasion of Iraq and now still supports the decision. He is in favor of a troop increase and opposed to setting a timetable for troop withdrawals.
Romney:
He stood behind the decision to invade Iraq and the troop increase. He has thumbed down a timetable for troop withdrawal.
Health Insurance:
Clinton:
She has vowed to provide universal health care insurance for all Americans, which will be subsidized by employers and the government. In her plan, the program should be paid by rolling back Bush's tax cut for households earning more than 250,000 dollars and savings in the existing system.
Obama:
He pushed for a health care plan under which all children will have health insurance with an aim for universal coverage. The way to cover the expense is also to roll back Bush's tax cut for households earning more than 250,000 dollars.
Huckabee:
His ways to make health care insurance affordable are tax credits and cost control measures.
McCain:
He has preferred a free-market and consumer-based system and promised an affordable health care insurance for all Americans but without a mandate. He opposes tax increases to fund the universal health care program.
Romney:
He supports a free-market and consumer-based system and opposes mandated health care insurance. He has suggested that the states should have the flexibility to create programs.
Immigration:
Clinton:
She has agreed to a path for illegal immigrants to attain legalization through learning English and paying fines. She also favors toughening punishments for employers of illegal immigrants and strengthening controls at borders with Mexico.
Obama:
Basically same as Clinton's stance
Huckabee:
According to his plan, illegal immigrants should be granted 120days to register and leave after they arrive in the U.S. He backs toughening penalties for hiring illegal immigrants and a plan to complete the construction of a border fence by 2010.
McCain:
Basically same as Clinton's stance
Romney:
He has suggested no way for illegal immigrants to be legalized and preferred to toughen penalties on those who hire illegal immigrants.
Source: Xinhua
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