Last updated on: 10/23/2008 7:59:00 AM PST

Positions are categorized as Pro (Yes), Con (No), Not Clearly Pro or Con (NC), or None Found (?). Candidates who have changed positions are listed as Now their most recent position. How we got their responses: On Sep. 4, 2008, ProCon.org sent its 65-question survey to Nancy Orloff at Senator Biden's Senate office and to Sen. Obama's campaign office for completion. We have not received a reply as of Oct. 20, 2008. On Sep. 4, 2008, ProCon.org sent its 65-question survey to both Sen. McCain's Vice-Presidential and Presidential Press Offices for completion. We have not received a reply as of Oct. 20, 2008. The Governor's Office of Sarah Palin in Juneau, AK told ProCon.org on Sep. 4, 2008 that they are not responding to inquiries about Palin as the Vice-Presidential nominee. B i d e n P a l i n Dem. Rep. A. Total % of Pro and Con responses (out of our 23 posted questions) 74% 17% B. Total % of NC and ? responses (out of our 23 posted questions) 26% 83% C. Total # of position changes 1 0 # Topic ProCon.org's Questions Responses 1 Abortion Should abortion remain a legal option in America? Pro Con 2 Cuba Should the US continue to support an embargo against Cuba? Pro ? 3 Death Penalty Should the death penalty remain a legal option in America? Pro Pro 4 Education Is the increasing cost of college and university tuition pricing America's middle class out of higher education? Pro ? 5 Election Reform Should voter verified paper audit trails (VVPAT) be mandatory in elections? Pro ? 6 Energy Should drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) be allowed? Con Pro 7 Environment Should the US ratify an international environmental agreement (such as the Kyoto Protocol) that mandates reductions in carbon emissions? Pro ? 8 Gun Control Are more federal regulations on guns and ammunition needed? Con Con 9 Health Care Should all Americans have a right to government or employer subsidized basic health care? NC NC 10 Immigration Should the US build a physical barrier, such as a fence, along the US-Mexico border? Now NC ? 11 Iran Should the US use military force against Iran if Iran does not dismantle its nuclear program? Con NC 12 Iraq Has the war in Iraq made America safer? Con ? 13 Iraq Should the US set a timetable for troop withdrawal in Iraq? Pro NC 14 Marriage Should an affair outside of marriage disqualify a candidate for public office? NC ? 15 Marriage Should there be a Constitutional amendment or federal law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman? Con NC 16 Medical Marijuana Should marijuana be a medical option? NC ? 17 Religion Should federal funds be given to faith-based (religious) organizations and initiatives? NC NC 18 Religion Should a candidate's religion matter to voters? NC ? 19 Social Security Should Social Security be privatized? Con ? 20 Stem Cells Should the federal government fund embryonic stem cell research? Pro NC 21 Taxes Should the Bush tax cuts be made permanent? Con ? 22 US Constitution Should the US Constitution and Bill of Rights be altered or updated in any way? Pro ? 23 War on Terror Should interrogation techniques that some consider torture, such as waterboarding, be a legal option? Con ? A. Total % of Pro and Con responses (out of our 23 posted questions) 74% 17% B. Total % of NC and ? responses (out of our 23 posted questions) 26% 83% C. Total # of position changes 1 0 TOP Additional Resources: 1. See the Presidential Candidates' Positions compared on over 72 issues

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