Next US President: McCain or Obama

Obama - unless security incident

Without an announced running mate to date.

I'm not confident enough to go all out 100% on this one, but here in Australia, we've heard squat from McCain.

I think it is way too early to tell at this point. Both candidates have not even finalized their vice president partner yet, and I think, this time around, it can make a huge difference.

Clinton's comments about Obama not being able to win the big states is a fact. If Obama somehow can recruit Clinton to be a reluctant running mate, then he will have Hill and Bill both pulling strings for him, winning the women's vote.

McCain can counter the race and gender card if he recruits Secretary of State Rice to run with him.

Another thing: Obama's political background is very different from the mainstream politicians. While that can be used as an reinforcement for his "change" slogan, I can see media forces such as Fox and Time digging up a lot of dirt quickly against him. Because he is a virtual unknown, the damage on the first round of back-stabbing can be catastrophic.

It'll be a very close race. Obama has a lot going for him, and he is without doubt the better speaker. His best bet is to keep the "McCain will just be a copy of Bush" line.

But the christian right will vote for McCain, and they're way more powerful than they ought to be. Conservatives, racists and everyone who profits from the current politics, who does NOT want change, will vote for McCain.
In addition, Hillary will continue to damage Obama, because she's aiming for 2012 and that will only work out if Obama loses in 2008.

Americans long for a change. The political environment is more favorable for Democrats.

I am looking forward to see what McCain has to show us. The republican will make their move soon enough.

IMO, both have similar views on the political but Obama is more charm and young.

McCain on the Issues

Abortion: Opposes abortion rights except in cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother.

Immigration: Co-sponsored Bush-backed immigration reform legislation, which would have increased funding and improved border security technology, improved enforcement of existing laws, and provided a legal path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants. Voted to authorize construction of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border.

Iraq: Voted for use of military force in Iraq. Supported Bush veto of war spending bill that would have withdrawn most U.S. troops by March 2008. Was an early proponent of sending additional American troops to Iraq.

Same-sex marriage: Supports definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but opposes a constitutional amendment banning same sex-marriage. Says individual states should decide the issue. Says a federal marriage ban might be appropriate if courts overturned state marriage laws. Supports legal benefits for same-sex partners.

Social Security: Supports Bush plan to allow workers to divert some Social Security payroll taxes to private retirement accounts.

Taxes: Voted against 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cut laws, but later voted in favor of extending tax cuts through 2010.

Obama on the Issues

Abortion: Supports abortion rights.

Immigration: Supported Bush-backed immigration reform legislation, which would have increased funding and improved border security technology, improved enforcement of existing laws, and provided a legal path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants. Voted to authorize construction of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border.

Iraq: Opposed use of military force in Iraq. Voted for war spending bill that would have withdrawn most U.S. troops by March 2008. Supports phased redeployment of U.S. troops. Opposed Bush's plan to send additional troops to Iraq. Had once called for troop withdrawal to begin by the end of 2006.

Same-sex marriage: Opposes same-sex marriage, but also opposes a constitutional ban. Supports civil unions.

Social Security: Opposes Bush plan allowing workers to divert some Social Security payroll taxes into private retirement accounts.

Taxes: Opposed extending 2003 Bush tax cut law through 2010. Supports eliminating marriage penalty and extending child tax credit. Supports scaling back capital gains and dividends tax cuts and re-examining tax benefits for the top one percent of earners.