**The text and photos for the following task comes from the BBC News website, which has a lot of useful information about the American presidential election. Click here to go to the original BBC page (which includes additional information on these topics).
Task instructions: Test your knowledge of the two major party presidential candidates! Look at the table below and notice the column headings. Then, row by row, read each statement and decide if they are in the correct columns. For example, on the issue "Identity," If you think Senator McCain is from Arizona and Senator Obama is from Illinois, click "Correct." If you think the statements are wrong/reversed, click "Incorrect."
| Issue |
John McCain |
Barack Obama |
Correct/Incorrect? |
| Identity |
Arizona senator and Vietnam war hero would be oldest man to become president. |
The Illinois senator says he can "break partisan logjams" and unite the country. |
Correct
Incorrect
|
| Economy |
Wants to help-middle class families struggling with rising costs and stagnant pay. Wants to reform healthcare and education, and has vowed to renegotiate free trade agreements. |
Would cut taxes on middle class families by abolishing the Alternative Minimum tax. Would keep Bush tax cuts, but decrease government spending. Wants to reform social security. |
Correct
Incorrect
|
| Iraq |
Voted for 2003 invasion and says US forces should remain until Iraq is able to defend itself. Backed Mr Bush's troop escalation. Says withdrawal plans could trigger genocide in the region. |
Opposed the war in Iraq from the outset and says there is "no military solution". Backs phased withdrawal of troops, and a UN convention to achieve national reconciliation. |
Correct
Incorrect
|
| Iran |
Would concentrate on trying to get a league of democracies to escalate economic sanctions against Iran. Refuses to rule out military solution if necessary to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. |
Favours "aggressive personal diplomacy". Would meet Iranian leaders without preconditions. He says they would change their behaviour if they were given incentives to do so. |
Correct
Incorrect
|
| National Security |
Wants increased national security funding to be allocated to areas most at risk of attack. He has criticised the Patriot Act, but voted to re-authorise it in 2006. |
A former Navy pilot who was a POW in Vietnam, he has been a leading voice in efforts to prevent the CIA resorting to "cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment of prisoners". |
Correct
Incorrect
|
| Climate Change |
Says climate change is real and devastating. Says US should consider joining with every other nation in the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, if China and India join in. |
Wants an 80% cut in US greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Wants US to lead global effort to combat climate change. Would invest $150bn over 10 years in clean energy. |
Correct
Incorrect
|
| Healthcare |
Backs universal coverage but would not make insurance compulsory, except for children. Subsidies would be provided to make cover more affordable and insurers would be unable to refuse coverage because of pre-existing conditions. |
Has highlighted his record on supporting health care for military veterans. Favours tax incentives to encourage people to get personal health insurance. |
Correct
Incorrect
|
| Illegal Immigration |
Wants US-Mexico border better policed and backs stricter penalties for employers who hire undocumented workers. Argues that giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship is not an amnesty if they pay a fine. |
Co-sponsor of bill which offered an amnesty to illegal immigrants as well as tougher border controls. Says undocumented workers already in the US should be put on path to citizenship. |
Correct
Incorrect
|
| Abortion |
Says the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalised abortions - Roe v Wade - should be overturned. Would appoint sympathetic new judges and aid state efforts to boost adoption. |
Speaking at a Democratic debate in April 2007, [he] said he trusted women to make their own choices on abortion "in conjunction with their doctors and their families and their clergy". |
Correct
Incorrect
|
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