I think the US might be ready for a woman or a black in the Whitehouse but both at the same time? I also wonder if some people will get cold feet and not vote for Obama when faced with the actual election.

I skimmed the candidates websites today looking at issues. Cherry picked a few things that stood out to me. Just a few comments.

Obama:

Pass the Fair Pay Act:
"Equal pay for “equal” jobs extended to race and national origin."

(Private companies sometimes pay people more for positions where they can quantify the benefit to the bottom line. Jobs within the company with more stress and equal or greater responsibility can pay less because they aren’t direct part of the profit equation and are in fact, considered overhead.

In the housing industry, Mexican laborers are willing to work for less pay and benefits which keeps housing costs low(er). This 'wage by mandate' will open the door for class action lawsuits that will initially benefit the lawyers more than their clients or the economy as a whole.)

Fully fund the Americans with Disabilities Act:
(Feel good measure with an initial cost of 10 billion/year.)

Economy:
(Some good points on research and green technology, but weighted heavily on the protection of the worker. Some lip service paid to small business but nothing I found on strengthening corporations.)

Education:
Make math and science a national priority
Provide funding, provide funding, provide funding.
(I’m not so sure funding is the problem. Have you helped a child with math lately?)

Energy:
Federal funding for advanced vehicles, Biofuel, Carbon caps. No Yucca mountain- essentially no new nuclear plants.
No mention of drilling in the US.
Take away our light bulbs.

Fiscal:
Pay as you go, Competitive bids for Federal contracts over $25,000.
Repeal Bush tax cuts.

HealthCare:
Overhaul system for efficiency (More details please.)
Allow drug reimportation.

Poverty:
Job training
Increase minimum wage.
Increase support for ex-offenders
Tax cuts for lower income Americans
Expand the EITC. (Great. More free money for people who get pregnant.)

Hillary

Healthcare:
(By decree of Big Sister, you vill have zee healthcare vether you like itz or not.)

Energy:
(A mirror of Obama’s plan with less detail and no mention of Nuclear. More emphasis on reduction of electricity use?.)
Take away your light bulbs.

Education:
Double the after school program to ensure that 2 million young people have a safe and stimulating place to go between 3 and 6 p.m. (Effectively extends the public child care system.)
Throw dollars at it.

Fiscal:
No mention of cutting earmarks.
Like Obama, do away with no-bid contracts.

Science: Interesting

McCain

Economy:
Cut corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%. (Did trickle down work before?)
Tax credits to business (None of this in Obama’s agenda.)
Middle class tax cuts.
Stop earmarks, pork-barrel and general waste. (Same old same old.)

Healthcare:
The US Government will make the healthcare system more efficient (Yeah right.)

Second Amendment:

If this were the only issue, McCain would have my vote...