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DEMOCRATS

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Do you believe abortion should be legal?

Should the United States begin pulling out of Iraq at this time?

Should the United States provide public universal health care?

Should same-sex couples have the right to civil unions with the legal rights associated with marriage?*

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REPUBLICANS

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Do you believe abortion should be legal?

Should the United States begin pulling out of Iraq at this time?

Should the United States provide public universal health care?

Should same sex couples have the right to be married?**

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Explanations

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*Few Democrats openly supported same-sex marriage but rather endorsed same-sex civil unions that would be afforded the same rights as marriage under the law. For this reason, the question is phrased to give the most information about the issue Democratic candidates did address.

**Few Republican candidates addressed their views on same sex civil unions with legal rights. Instead, they spoke openly against gay marriage, defining marriage, and presumably it’s rights, to be restricted to relationships between one man and one woman. For this reason, the gay-marriage question is phrased to give the most information about the issues Republican candidates did openly address. Those candidates with asterisks supported civil unions with full legal rights.

The Iowa Poll, which has been traditionally indicative of how candidates are polling nationally, provided the poll numbers for the frontrunners in each political party. Not all listed candidates were given percentage shares in the most recent Iowa poll.

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DEMOCRATS

Sen. Joe BidenYESYESYESYES

• Supports reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below levels set in 1990 by 2050.

• Promotes creating a “No Fly Zone” over the Darfur region of Sudan.

Sen. Hillary Clinton 26.8%

YESYESYESYES

• Supports increasing access to higher education by creating a $3,500 refundable tax credit for middle-class families.

• Introduced Paycheck Fairness Act in attempt to lessen wage discrepancies between men and women.

Sen. Christopher Dodd

YESYESYESYES

• Supports a renewed effort in the war on drugs by viewing drug addiction as a public health problem.

• Supports capping carbon emmissions and views global warming as a national security issue.

John Edwards

YESYESYESYES

• Supports providing consumers with country of origin information for imported food items.

• Supports creating work bonds to help low-income families save up to $500 annually.

Mike Gravel

YESYESYESYES

• Supports same-sex marriage and has spoken out against the Defense of Marriage Act.

• Supports capping carbon emmissions and views global warming as a national security issue.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich

YESYESYESYES

•If elected, plans on double tax credits and refunds for Americans earning less than $80,000 annually.

•Has spoken openly in support of same-sex marriage and the corresponding legal rights.

Sen. Barack Obama: 23.8%

YESYESYESYES

• Has spoken out openly against gay marriage saying he believes that marriage is between one man and one woman.

• Supports increased border patrol and technology to prevent illegal immigration.

Gov. Bill Richardson: 10.3%

YESYESYESYES

• Supports policies in which undocumented workers could earn legal status.

• Supports intiatives to cut oil dependency in half by 2020.

REPUBLICANS

Sen. Sam Brownback

NONONONO

• Strongly supports Israel in what he calls its “fight against Islamic terrorism.”

• Supports school choice programs, especially for minority students.

Rudy Giuliani: 15.6%

YESNONONO

• Supports domestic partnerships with full rights in legal and personal matters for gay couples.

• Says he is committed to supporting and appointing strictly constructionist judges.

Mike Huckabee: 9.8%

NONONONO

• Supports constitutional amendment to ban abortion.

• One of his first priorities, if elected, is to put into action a comprehensive energy independence plan.

Duncan Hunter

NONOPOSITION NOT IDENTIFIEDNO

• Supports constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

• Strongly supports building fence along the United States and Mexican border to prevent illegal immigration.

Alan Keyes

NOPOSITION NOT IDENTIFIEDNONO

• Believes the separation of church and state doctrine is a misinterpretation of the U.S. Constitution.

• Does not believe sexual orientation should be protected under the law in the same ways as race or gender.

Sen. John McCain: 9.8%

NONONONO

• Does not support gay marriage but believes states should decide if it will be legal.

• Strongly supports adoption and plans to provide tax credits for families that adopt.

Rep. Ron Paul

NOYESNOPOSITION NOT IDENTIFIED

• Supports homeschooling and plans to advance tax credits to make it easier for families who choose to homeschool.

• Does not support the Patriot Act and is working to overturn it.

Mitt Romney: 25.8%

STATE ISSUENONONO

• As governor, opposed Massuchusetts court decisions to make gay marriage legal.

• Supports providing more of a math and science focus in schools.

Rep. Tom Tancredo

NOYESNONO

• Supports securing borders to prevent illegal immigration and eliminating job opportunities for undocumented immigrants.

• Has publicly stated that “political correctness” has gotten in the way of effective political debate.

Fred Thompson: 15.2%

NONONONO

• Supports charter schools, less federal funding and more state-level decision making in education.

• Supports states’ rights to make rulings on questions of same-sex marriage.

SOURCES: Candidates’ campaign Web sites; www.ontheissues.org