Race for the Oval Office
By Ian Gibson

	On November 4th, 2008, millions of Americans will crowd the polls in hopes of 
casting their ballot for the next President of the United States of America.
	The importance of the 2008 election cannot be underestimated. With the 
impossibility of President Bush’s re-election due to constitutional term limits, a new 
Commander-in-Chief will emerge from an already diverse pool of candidates. Our new 
leader will have to face complex and divisive issues such as the War in Iraq, 
environmentalism, and abortion rights.
      A plethora of contenders representing a broad spectrum of political beliefs and 
ideals have already announced their candidacy. The main candidates represent the two 
mainstream political parties, both of which have much at stake in the coming election. 
The Republican Party wishes to maintain control of the White House after the devastating 
loss of both congressional chambers in the 2006 election. On the other hand, the 
Democrats hope to gain power of the executive branch after an eight-year GOP reign.
      At  present, former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani is the forerunner of the 
Republican candidates, and current polls show him as the most likely to receive the GOP 
nomination in next year’s primaries. Giuliani is heralded for his work in decreasing crime 
as well as his pro-gay rights, pro-choice stance, but many criticize him for not truly 
representing Republican ideals. After three wives and numerous affairs, many voters are 
unsure of what Giuliani would bring to a national office.
       Senator John McCain of Arizona is also a strong Republican candidate, 
representing a moderate campaign including a stronger environmental record than most 
conservatives but a supportive stance in regards to the War in Iraq. However, his votes 
against increased funding for education along with his attacks on birth control and sex 
education are hostile to the opinion of most Democrats, creating a candidate that is 
unlikely to receive a majority of votes. It was this same dilemma that cost McCain the 
primaries back in 2000, when he first ran for president.
      In the Democratic Party, two presidential hopefuls are creating a buzz for their 
minority status. The narrowly favored Senator Hillary Clinton from New York is widely 
recognized as the wife of former President Bill Clinton. Not surprisingly, she has 
represented largely the same ideals since obtaining a Senatorial seat in 2000, pushing for 
a renovation of the current education system and increased gun control. The controversy 
exists in her change of position on the War in Iraq and general foreign policy. In 2002, 
Hillary voted for the invasion of Iraq and stood behind President Bush, until 2006 when 
she reversed positions. Calls for an explanation or apology for her original vote have 
since been unanswered.
      Slightly behind Clinton in the democratic polls and climbing is junior Senator 
Barack Obama from Illinois, the only African American currently in the senate. Obama 
has gained recognition for his work towards decreasing poverty and improving inner-city 
conditions. Even as a staunch opponent to the War in Iraq, Obama has recognized the 
need for a strong foreign policy and the threat that Iran poses. The only major objection 
to Obama’s presidential campaign is his lack of experience, with only two years in the 
Senate and eight years as an Illinois legislator.
      With so many different candidates and so many diverse political viewpoints, the 
outcome of the 2008 presidential election is far from predictable. The only thing voters 
can be sure of is an election that will be anything but boring.