If the candidates would complete the Political Courage Test you could compare their policies quite precisely — to see what they actually support on the issues that are important to you. You can read the Presidential Candidate 2008 test form here [PDF]. Unfortunately, so far Clinton, McCain and Obama have declined — all receiving the Vote Smart “red banner”, which reads:
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton repeatedly refused to provide any responses to citizens on the issues through the 2008 Political Courage Test when asked to do so by national leaders of the political parties, prominent members of the media, Project Vote Smart President Richard Kimball, and Project Vote Smart staff.
Almost all of the political analysts I’ve read posit that the Democratic candidates position to the left to win the nomination, but then have to make themselves look more centrist in order to win the national election. Perhaps that explains the reluctance to complete the test now — as they want cover as they change their politics during the year.
Sen. McCain did respond in 2004 to a comprehensive test covering the following issues [the "Congressional Election 2004 National Political Awareness Test"], covering the following issues:
Abortion Issues
Budgetary, Spending, and Tax Issues, Part 1: Budget Priorities
Budgetary, Spending, and Tax Issues, Part 2: Defense Spending
Budgetary, Spending, and Tax Issues, Part 3: Taxes (A)
Budgetary, Spending, and Taxes, Part 3: Taxes (B)
Campaign Finance and Government Reform Issues
Crime Issues
Drug Issues
Education Issues
Employment and Affirmative Action Issues
Environment and Energy Issues
Gun Issues
Health Issues
Immigration Issues
International Aid, International Policy, and Trade Issues, Part 1: International Aid
International Aid, International Policy, and Trade Issues, Part 2: International Policy
International Aid, International Policy, and Trade Issues, Part 3: International Trade
National Security Issues
Social Security Issues
Technology and Communication Issues
Welfare and Poverty Issues
Legislative Priorities
While Sen. Obama refused the 2008 Political Courage Test, he responded 10 years ago to the “Illinois State Legislative Election 1998 National Political Awareness Test” — note that the questions are basically all state politician-level, not comparable to the 2004 national-policy test fulfilled by McCain. Obama also ducked many of the questions by choosing “Other”.
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