card.” While most candidates were eager to respond, Republican Rudolph Giuliani declined to participate–the former New York City mayor’s responses come from his Website–as do the responses for Republican Fred Thompson.
Using data from Iowa Electronic Markets, a research and teaching tool hosted by the faculty at the University of Iowa’s Henry B. Tipple College of Business, be has determined each candidate’s probability of winning the party’s nomination. According to David Bositis, senior political analyst at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington, D.C., this data has predicted the outcomes of races with remarkable accuracy for the past 20 years. Open the fold for insight into the candidates’ priorities and potential.
Hillary Clinton
Born Oct. 26, 1947 (Age: 60)
Chicago
Spouse Former President Bill Clinton
Alma mater Wellesley College; Yale University Law School
Profession Junior U.S. senator from New York (since 2001); Attorney
Religion United Methodist
ECONOMY
I will empower and invest in urban America. I will restore our investments in Community Development Block Grants. For many cities, CDBG funding is the most important federal aid they get for things like affordable housing, job creation, and economic development. I will expand microfinance programs, empowerment zones, and other efforts to get more economic opportunity and investment in our urban cores.
NATIONAL SECURITY
I have introduced legislation (Iraq Troop Protection and Reduction Act) to begin bringing our troops home within 90 days. And I have joined other Democrats to add provisions to the Defense Authorization bill that would force the president to abandon his failed policy in Iraq. Among those provisions is legislation I am co-sponsoring to de-authorize the war and eliminate the president’s authority to conduct the war. If he continues to refuse to do so I am prepared to end the war myself as president.
SOCIAL POLICY
As president, I will expand Head Start and invest $10 billion per year to establish universal, high-quality pre-kindergarten education for all 4-year-old children in America. This plan will expand access to the more than 3 million 4-year-olds who are not enrolled in state pre-kindergarten programs, providing states with matching funds to devise their own programs and requiring that classes be taught by highly-trained teachers.
WILD CARD
As president, I will fully fund No Child Left Behind. I also believe we should do much more to recruit, retain, and support teachers. I will work to make college affordable and accessible for all who want to attend. The Pell Grant and other federal financial assistance programs have failed to keep pace with the rise in cost. I have introduced legislation to increase the maximum Pell Grant, reduce the cost of student loans, increase the HOPE [scholarship] and Lifetime Learning tax credits, and reign in the growing cost of college.
B.E.’S BETTING ON…
New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has a whopping 73% chance of winning the Democratic nomination. She’s running a professional campaign that highlights her experience as both a senator and former first lady, and she has worked hard to connect with different constituents. But will Americans vote for a woman for president?
BARACK OBAMA
Born Aug. 4, 1961 (Age: 46)
Honolulu
Spouse