This November, voters everywhere throughout America will be asked to choose the next leader of the United States. The voters must decide if they want to stay with the incumbent democrat, Barack Obama, or change gears and go with the republican, ex-Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney.
Just as any other election, both parties are running ads promoting themselves as well as ads saying why you should not vote for the other.
When comparing the two different candidates head to head, it is noticeable that they both have incredibly different backgrounds. This might have something to do with their polar-opposite stances on some of the nation’s most prevalent issues such as economic issues, energy issues, and same-sex marriages.
Romney does not support either same-sex marriage or any form of civil unions. Romney also supported the Federal Marriage Amendment, which prohibits same-sex marriage. In July of 2006, however, the amendment failed to pass so it is not in effect today. The only notable thing that Obama has done regarding the same-sex marriage debate is support the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” which was officially repealed on Sept. 20, 2011.
It is a well-known fact that most republicans, Romney especially, do not support the Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obama-care, which President Obama, himself, implemented in his stint in the White House. Due to this, Romney has made it clear many times saying that he will repeal the new health care laws, if elected.
Lastly, Romney is adamantly against any form rights being awarded to illegal aliens crossing the border into America i.e. allowing amnesty, allowing them to be eligible to receive driver’s licenses and even temporary legalization for illegal aliens as guest workers. Obama, on the contrary, believes that it is, “impractical” to deport the over 12 million illegal immigrants currently living in the United States. At the same time as this, however, Obama also supports additional border patrol agents and other forms of technology on America’s borders and ports.
Although Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, are still behind in the pre-election polls, the difference is slim. Big-time political analysts around the country such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are saying the difference could actually be a good thing for the Republicans.
According to a recent Gallup poll, 48 percent of voters are siding with Obama/Biden while 45 percent, with Romney/Ryan. When looking into the distant past, staying with the Gallup polls, in 1996, they had Clinton over Dole, 52 percent to 41 percent, a nine percent margin.
With both of the parties national conventions now finished, all that remains for each candidate is their own private commercials, other forms of advertisements and the presidential debates, which are set to begin on Oct. 3 at the University of Denver with the overall topic of domestic policy.
Just over a week later, on Oct. 11, there will be a vice-presidential debate between the current Vice President, Joe Biden and Romney’s running-mate, Paul Ryan. The topic at Centre College, in Danville, Kentucky will focus on both foreign and domestic policy.
The third presidential debate will be in a “town meeting” format, which includes foreign and domestic policy issues on Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.
The fourth and final face off between the Mitt Romney and Barack Obama before Election Day will take place at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida on October 22. This debate will focus solely on each candidate’s foreign policies.
Nov. 6 is Election Day, and Americans everywhere will be asked to go to the polls and voice their own opinion on which candidate they believe should be the leader of the country for the next four years. Every vote counts and it is surely one of the biggest elections to take place in most of our lifetimes.
