By Julia Yetter
U.S. President
Sen. Barack Obama
Democrat
Obama, a Democratic senator from Illinois, is currently leading his republican opponent John McCain in the polls for this race. Throughout his presidential campaign, Obama has continually stressed that one of his main goals, if elected, would be to develop a system of universal health care for this country. Obama’s health care plan would mandate health care coverage for children, but not for adults. Obama has said that he would implement a removal of U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months. The League of Conservation Voters has endorsed Obama on the basis of his strong environmental voting record and support for renewable energy.
As a running mate, Obama selected Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, who has served six terms in office and boasts a long record of experience with both foreign policy and the economy.
Sen. John McCain
Republican
McCain has echoed the Obama campaign in this race by also presenting himself as a candidate that will bring reform and change to this country. McCain supports the use of tax credits to encourage individuals to purchase health care, and believes that increased competition in the insurance industry will keep costs low. McCain supports a continued presence of American troops in Iraq and he strongly supported the “troop surge,” which many view as a highly successful operation.
For Vice President, McCain has chosen Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. Palin has a reputation for breaking with the politics of her party at times and also supports the development of oil and gas resources here in the U.S., such as in her home state of Alaska.
Palin supports the Bush administration’s policies in Iraq, as well as military operations in Pakistan.
Kentucky House of Representatives – Third District
Rep. John Yarmuth
Democrat
During his first term, Yarmuth helped pass a bill that called for the largest increase in college aid in 60 years. He voted for the expansion of a federally subsidized child health care program which was later vetoed by President Bush.
He voted down the first version of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Package, but later joined with the majority in passing the second, amended version. Yarmuth also voted for an additional $10.2 billion in funding for federal education and HHS projects in November, 2007.
In August 2007, Yarmuth voted for a bill investing in homegrown biofuel, pushing for greater energy independence in the U.S. Earlier this year, he voted to allow tax incentives for renewable energy.
Anne Northup
Republican
Former five-term representative, Republican Ann Northup, has returned from a failed bid for governor in an attempt to reclaim a seat in the House. Northup has campaigned that she strongly supports drilling for oil in Alaska, while maintaining that she is not completely convinced global warming is the result of man’s activities.
During her previous terms in the House, Northup sat on the House Appropriations Committee, charged with supervising government expenditures. In 1998, Northup founded the House Reading Caucus, a bipartisan caucus that gives aid to children having problems learning to read.
On her web site, Northup said she feels the troop surge has worked, and would be a mistake to leave Iraq now.
U.S. Senate
Sen. Mitch McConnell
Republican
McConnell led the republican minority during his fourth term as state senator.
In 2005 he became the longest serving republican senator in Kentucky history.
McConnell’s recent voting record includes a vote against expanding a federally subsidized health care program for children, and he has remained one of the most consistent supporters of the Bush administration’s Iraq War.
McConnell has also been a strong advocate for higher education in Kentucky, having founded the McConnell Center at U of L in 1991, which each year gives scholarships to Kentucky high school students to study at the university.
Bruce Lunsford
Democrat
This is Lunsford’s first campaign for a senatorial position. Lunsford has held several positions with the Democratic party over the years, and boasts a career as a successful businessman, having invested in horse racing, theme parks and the film industry.
In his campaign against McConnell, Lunsford has spoken of the need to revitalize the American economy with new resources and with less of a dependence on foreign oil. He has also pushed for improvements in higher education, specifically focusing on areas such as math and science in order to better prepare students for the new economy that he speaks of.
-Reporting by
Julia Yetter.
