Presidential Election Guide

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October 19, 2012
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Presidential Election Guide

Barack Obama Mitt Romney
On the Issues
Hopes to use tax cuts to the middle class to stimulate the economy. Issued an $800 billion stimulus plan as president that has had mixed results. Unemployment rates have been dropping recently, but remain at a high level.
Economy
Low taxes on the wealthy and less regulation will spur economic growth. Also wants to expand trade deals with other countries and be strict on China trade deals to help discourage outsourcing of jobs.
Wants to mix spending cuts and revenue increases to tackle debt. Main part of his plan is to let the Bush tax cuts expire for couples making over $250,000.
Debt
While not very specific about spending cuts he would make, wants to drop federal spending to 20 percent of the gross domestic product.
Wants to raise taxes to wealthy. Supports the Bush tax cuts to couples making less than $250,000. Wants to increase top two tax rates to pre-Bush levels and raise taxes on capital gains and dividends for the wealthy.
Taxes
Wants to keep Bush tax cuts for all incomes and drop tax rates by another 20 percent. Wants to cut corporate tax from 35 percent to 25 percent.
Background on Obama
Born: Barack Hussein Obama II Birth date: August 4, 1961 Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii Wife: Michelle Obama Children: Malia and Sasha Hometown: Chicago, Illinois Religion: Christianity Education: Columbia College (BA), Harvard Law School (JD)
Vice Presidential Candidate

Joe Biden
Political background:
- 47th Vice President of the United States (2008-present) - U.S. Senator from Delaware (1973-2009) - Served as the chairman of the Senate Committee of the Judiciary (1987-1995), International Narcotics Control Committee (20072009), and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (2007-2009)
Ended war in Iraq, pledges to get troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Approved raid that killed Osama bin Laden. Wants to cut military spending over the next decade in an agreement made with congressional Republicans. Acted to free states from many requirements of George Bushs "No Child Left Behind" law. Has rewarded states with billions of dollars for pursuing educational achievements. Has worked with Congress to increase Pell grants and other forms of financial aid. Led overhaul of U.S. health care system, leading the country to universal coverage that will allow millions of previously uninsured Americans to have access to health care. Under the law, insurers will be banned from denying coverage to people with preexisting conditions.
War
Wants to increase military spending, adding $100 billion to the Pentagon budget in 2016. Agrees with leaving Afghanistan in 2014 if the conditions are fit at the time. Wants no constitutional rights for foreign terrorism suspects.
Vice Presidential Candidate

Paul Ryan
- Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 1st district (1999 - present) - Chairperson of the House Budget Committee (2011 present), also a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means -Never recorded fewer than 57 percent of his district's vote in the seven elections he has won
Background on Romney
Born: Willard Mitt Romney Birth date: March 12, 1947 Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan Wife: Ann Romney Children: Taggart, Matthew, Joshua, Benjamin, Craig Hometown: Belmont, Massachusetts Religion: Mormon Education: Brigham Young University (BA), Harvard Law and Business Schools (MBA, JD)
Education
Supported standards set by "No Child Left Behind." Wants federal government to have less control of education. Claims increases in federal aid cause tuition prices to increase. Wants aid to rely more on private lenders.
- 44th President of the United States (2008-present) - United States Senator from Illinois (2005-2008) - Member of Illinois Senate (1997-2004) - Political party: Democratic - Former Professions: Community organizer, lawyer, Constitutional law professor
Health care
The Electoral College

The Electoral College is made up of 538 electors, consisting of the total membership of Congress. It includes 435 members of the House of Representatives, 100 Senators, and three electors from the District of Columbia. Each state has two Senators, while the number of Representatives is based on a states population. So the higher a states population, the more electoral votes that state will have. On Election Day, registered voters vote for their choice for president. The candidate who wins the most votes in a state gets all the votes of that states Electoral College Representatives, regardless of the margin of victory. California has the most electoral votes with 55, followed by Texas (38), New York (29), and Florida (29). Pennsylvania has the fifth most electoral votes, with 20. Seven states and the District of Columbia have the fewest votes, with 3. The Electoral College has chosen the same candidate that has won the popular vote in every election but in 1876, 1888, and 2000.
Information compiled by Will DeShong. Background sources of information appearing on page: barackobama.com, mittromney.com, The New York Times, Associated Press, politifact.com. Photos courtesy of MCT Campus.
Swing States
Current support in larger, more competitive states
Obama Romney
Said he would repeal Obamacare his first day in office, despite the law being modeled after his health care plan while Governor of Mass., claiming states should control policies on uninsured. Plan has no major changes from preObama health care laws.
- Won 11 primaries and caucuses as a Presidential candidate in 2008 - 70th Governor of Massachusetts (2003-2007) - Political party: Republican - Former Professions: Cofounder and CEO of Bain Capital, management consultant, capitalist
Young Voters
Percentage of support among likely voters age 18 to 29
55 percent 50 40 30 34 percent
Where to Vote
If you live in the Slippery Rock Borough: Vote at the Slippery Rock Community Rec Center, located at 320 North Main Street, Slippery Rock Pa., 16057 If you live in Slippery Rock Township: Vote at the Slippery Rock Township Community Building, located at 155 Branchton Road, Slippery Rock Pa., 16057 If you live in Mercer Township: Vote at the Township Building, located at 152 Boomerang Road, Harrisville, Pa., 16038.
Pa. Ohio Fla. Wis. Va. Colo.
54 percent 53 percent 53 percent 50 percent 51 percent 47 percent
42 percent 43 percent 44 percent 47 percent 46 percent 48 percent
Supports abortion rights. Health care law would require workplace health plans to cover free contraceptives for women.
Reproductive Rights
Opposes abortion rights. Once supported them as Governor of Mass. State law should decide abortion rights, and Roe v. Wage should be reversed. Would end federal aid to Planned Parenthood.
Supports same-sex marriage. Helped repeal a military ban on openly gay soldiers. Has not repealed the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal recognition of same-sex marriage.
Gay Rights
Opposes same-sex marriage and wants a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Opposes civil unions if they guarantee the same protections as marriage.
20 10
Obama
Romney
If you live in Brady Township: Vote at the Brady Hills Mobile Home Park, located at 153 Lilac Lane, Slippery Rock, Pa., 16057. If your place of residence is not listed above, please visit: www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us to find your polling location. Scan the QR code to the right to visit the website on your smartphone.
Results based on a series of "swing state" polls of likely voters conducted by Quinnipiac University, The New York Times and CBS News, as of Oct. 17. The polls asked people which candidate they would vote for if the election were held on the present day. Source: The New York Times
All forms of U.S. energy production have increased under Obama. Helped create high fuel economy standards that will make cars more fuel efficient. Set regulations on heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming. Spent heavily on green energy.
Energy
Promises to make U.S. independent from energy sources outside North America by 2020. Supports Keystone XL pipeline from Canada, and supports opening other environmental hotspots for drilling, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The study conducted for the Harvard Institute of Politics by Knowledge Networks was released Oct. 17. Researchers polled 2,123 likely voters between Sept. 19 and Oct. 3, asking which presidential candidate they supported. Sampling error +/- 2 percent. Source: The New York Times

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A-6

October 19, 2012

Presidential Election Guide

Vice Presidential Candidate

Vice Presidential Candidate

The Electoral College

Pa. Ohio Fla. Wis. Va. Colo.

54 percent 53 percent 53 percent 50 percent 51 percent 47 percent

42 percent 43 percent 44 percent 47 percent 46 percent 48 percent

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