WHO'S THE BEST FOR THE YANKS

Various issues trouble the American public and Obama & McCain have their independent views regarding these issues. The road to November primarily deals with convincing the American public that one (Obama or McCain) knows how to deal with these key issues in the best possible way.

Of all these 'issues' the two big-ticket issues which rank top amongst all concerns of the American voter are 1) the Iraq war 2) the shaky economy.

The two candidates couldn't be more contradictory to each other regarding these issues.

McCain was, and is, a vehement supporter of the decision to invade Iraq and pledges to keep US troops there until 'the war is won'.

Obama, on the other hand, was an early opposer to the war and during the democratic primaries, promised to remove US troops from Iraq, although in early July, he slightly shifted from his stance and stated that he needs to assess the situation before taking a firm decision.

The presence of US troops in Iraq doesn't go down well with voters because many voters have relations in the armed forces. Moreover, the war on Iraq will cost the US a staggering $1 trillion and more, and this stat hasn't done anything but aggravate the taxpayer. Hard-core conservatives will stand by McCain on this issue, but a majority of voters will support Obama, although the recent centralist comments by Obama regarding this issue may disgruntle voters.

On the agenda of economy, the chasm is also evident. McCain supports Bush's tax cuts for wealthy Americans and cutting corporate tax rates. Obama would rather let Bush's tax cuts expire for Americans earning over $250,000 annually and raise capital gains tax rates.

Obama has also opposed McCain's proposed federal gas tax summer holiday. While McCain feels that it would give a slight boost to struggling families seeking a vacation, Obama calls it 'a political stunt' to gain the popularity vote of gullible voters.

Another issue which has been lingering for some time is regarding health care. McCain wants to do away with the employer-based insurance coverage using tax credits (a tax credit is a recognition of partial payment already made towards taxes due) and create an open market system where people can decide upon competing policies. An open market will presumably enable more competition amongst insurance policy providers, thereby increasing health care quality and decreasing costs. But, without government control on such a vital issue, an open market assumes too much risk. Families, who can't afford even low-cost insurance would be neglected. Obama would keep the current job-based system and expand government involvement and also supports universal health care for children. The U.S. is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not have a universal health care system. Supporters of universal health care allege that it provides uniform coverage to everyone and hence crosses out the number of uninsured Americans, which create direct and hidden costs shared by all, and thus, lower costs. Opponents to universal health coverage believe that it would increase taxes and decrease quality and feel that people should have the option to opt out and choose their own insurance policies.

The 2 big-ticket issues along with health care are the main concerns for Americans and its up to Obama and McCain to convince the voters that they have the best solution for each issue. The next few weeks should impart more clarity on the stance of Obama, McCain and the American voter.

OBAMA OR MCCAIN? WHO?

The 2008 US Presidential Elections might be the most significant elections till date, not only for the US but for all the countries which are influence by the American economy and it s politics.

The question: Obama or McCain, will be decided by American voters, but the consequences of this election will affect many nations, including India.

'How will they affect America, India and world politics?' is a question which needs to be addressed.

A little information on the background of both candidates.

Obama - Born in 1961 in Hawaii to a Black Kenyan father and a White mother from the highly rural state of Kansas, Obama spent a rough childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia. He graduated with a degree in Political Science, with a specialization in International Relations from Columbia University, New York. After some work-ex, Obama moved to Chicago and worked as a Community Organizer for 3 years. He entered Harvard in 1988 and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1991. He taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992-2004. He was also involved with law firms and was actively involved in public litigation.

Obama was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1996 and ran for a Democratic primary run for the U.S. House of Representatives against Bobby Rush, a former candidate for mayor of Chicago, and lost; thus losing credibility amongst his fellow party members and going into debt. But, he didn't lose hope and from 2003 to 2004, worked to regain his lost credibility and toned down his Harvardesque attitude, which enabled him to connect with the local populace. He ran for the US Senate in 2004 and won, thus opened the door to mainstream politics where he sponsored a number of bills and introduced the Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007. In February 2007, Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

McCain - John McCain was born at Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone to a naval officer and a service wife in 1936. Following the footsteps of his father, McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1958. Unlike Bush, McCain's career in the armed forces was very perilous with the 1967 USS Forrestal fire incident and his ordeal as a POW from 1967 to 1973 as testaments to this fact. McCain retired from the navy in 1981 and finished with seventeen military awards and decorations including the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and Navy Commendation Medal.

His career in the US Congress started in 1982. In 2000, McCain ran against Bush for the Republican Presidential Primaries and subsequently lost. Because of his lost and differences with Bush, McCain contemplated leaving the Republican party in 2001 and till 2004 he ran counter to Bush's views on a number of issues, until their rapprochement in 2004. He saw out his 3rd and 4th Senate term and finally in 2007, announced his intentions to run for president. He won the Republican primaries in March 2008 and, if elected, will become the oldest president at 72 years.

Politically, Obama is defined as a Liberal and McCain is defined as a Conservative.