Where Obama And McCain Really Differ


The list of challenges facing America is long, but the list of issues that John McCain or Barack Obama would heavily influence is shorter. In this staff report, National Journal identifies the policy areas that will be greatly affected by Election Day -- and those that won't.

• Congressional Insiders Poll

     

Table of Contents: Print Order | By Topic


Economy

What's The Worst That Could Happen?

If financial doomsday struck, credit would dry up, businesses would shut down and capital spending would halt.
• Choose Your Culprit

Politics

The Politics Of Economic Anxiety

Recent Allstate/National Journal surveys show a link between voters' specific economic concerns and their political leanings.


William Schneider: Political PulseSaturday, Oct. 4, 2008

Mixed Feelings On The Bailout

Politicians are worried that a rescue plan could be politically poisonous and ineffective.

Ronald Brownstein: Political ConnectionsSaturday, Oct. 4, 2008

The Other Meltdown

The next president will inherit a political crisis to match the economic one.

Congress

Shaky Markets, Shaky Leadership?

Harry Reid's hyperpartisanship can be a liability when reaching across the aisle is required.

The Week On The Hill

Senate passes sweetened bailout; Bush signs CR.

Foreign Affairs

Few Plans Exist For Korea After Kim Jong Il

There's no evident succession plan should Kim pass from the scene.

Navy's Shipbuilding Program On The Shoals

A chief of naval operations discusses the shipbuilding crisis.


Stuart Taylor Jr.: Opening ArgumentSaturday, Oct. 4, 2008

A Broken Polity

Many voters are at uninformed about public affairs and deluded by populist simplicities.

Charlie Cook: Cook ReportSaturday, Oct. 4, 2008

A Tie Goes To The House

What would happen in the House if the Electoral College vote ended in a tie?

White House 08

Where They Stand

Examine the differences between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.

Special Series

Swing States

A look at the swing states likely to determine the outcome of the 2008 presidential election.


Resources

National Journal Magazine Article Indexes

Comprehensive magazine archives in PDF form, ready to print and save.

Last Week's Cover Story

What Will This Election Hinge On?

Our political observers predict which single factor will prove decisive.


 Special IssueFriday, Feb. 15, 2008

National Journal's Salary Survey

In this year's salary survey, executives were paid more than $1 million in compensation and benefits in 2006, and almost 200 took home at least $500,000.

 Interactive FeatureFriday, March 7, 2008

2007 Vote Ratings

Lawmakers ranked on how they vote on a conservative-to-liberal scale.
• Why Obama Was 'The Most Liberal'.