Who: Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) Bio: Biden was born in Delaware in 1942 and graduated from the University of Delaware in 1965. He attended Syracuse University College of Law in 1968. He practiced law for two years, and in 1972, he was elected to the U.S. Senate at age 29. During his 30-plus years in the Senate, he chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee, overseeing several controversial U.S. Supreme Court appointments, including present Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He ran for president this year and in 1988, but did not receive his party’s nomination either time.

The Issues: The War in Iraq: An ardent critic of the war, he co-authored the Biden-Gelb plan, which detailed a five-point plan to end the war. He supports expanding federalism in Iraq, focusing on a ‘limited central government.’ He would like to see most U.S. forces withdrawn from Iraq this year.

Abortion and Stem Cell Research: Despite his Catholic roots, he supports abortion rights and has even voted in favor of late-term abortion rights. His stance on abortion has changed since his involvement in the Senate; originally he did not support the Roe v. Wade decision of 1972. He supports stem cell research and federal government funding.

Economy: Biden’s plan centers around ‘re-invigorating’ the middle class, with a focus on middle-class tax cuts. He advocates placing restrictions and increasing government regulation on the oil industry and working to restructure the mortgage and lending industries.

Environment: He is in favor of environmental preservation. He co-sponsored the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act and supports improved car and truck fuel efficiency. He is against oil drilling in Alaska.

Energy: Biden advocates moving the U.S. away from using fossil fuels and into finding new sources of energy. He proposes spending $50 billion during a five-year period on incentive-based research and creating a ‘national renewable portfolio standard’ that would require 20 percent of the nation’s power come from renewable sources.

Financial Aid: He advocates tax breaks to help people pay for college tuition. In 2007, he introduced legislation that would provide a $3,000 tax credit and make it simpler for families to apply for college tax credit. In his home state of Delaware, he pushed a $4,000 credit for all state residents in 2001.

Who: Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska)Bio: Palin was born in 1964 and moved to Alaska a year later. She received a bachelor’s degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987. She became the mayor of Wasilla, Ala. after serving two terms on city council. After a previously unsuccessful bid for the governorship, she became the first female Alaskan governor when she took office in 2006.

The Issues:The War in Iraq: Both Palin and Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) support a long-term plan that centers on stabilization. Their plan includes making sure that the Iraqi government represents all of the Iraqi people and can effectively govern the nation. However, Palin said in an interview with The Atlantic that she has ‘focused on state government’ and not ‘really … much on the war in Iraq.’

Abortion and Stem Cell Research: She remains firmly against abortion rights, even in the case of rape. While running mate McCain supports federal-funded stem cell research, Palin does not, according to articles by the Boston Herald and The New York Times.

Economy: Her plan for the economy centers on creating new jobs, keeping tax rates low and balancing the budgets by 2013. As governor, she created the Senior Benefits Program that offers support for the elderly poor.

Environment: She supports offshore drilling and the increase in drilling in some of the Alaskan wilderness. She joined the National Governors Association Natural Resources Committee, which was created to watch over environmental issues on a state level. As governor, she also set up the Climate Change Sub-Cabinet, created to design a strategy to combat climate change for Alaska.

Energy: Palin supported more drilling and increased use of oil pipelines. She is chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, an organization that a multi-state government agency promoting the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources. As chair, she manages the proposed oil field expansion and how it affects the environment. She has made the construction of a gas pipeline a top priority.

Financial Aid: Her exact stance on college student financial aid is uncertain, but she has supported aid for both seniors and aid for the high costs of energy.

Sources www.biden.senate.gov, www.gov.state.ak.us

-Compiled by staff writer Abram Brown, adbrow03@syr.edu

Published on September 1, 2008 at 12:00 pm