2012 Presidential Election
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Which candidate should be US president in 2012?
2012 Presidential Election
ProCon.org has researched the US presidential candidates and their views on 55 issues ranging from abortion to global warming to medical marijuana to waterboarding. Read our simple, nonpartisan, pro-con presentations and decide for yourself: "Which candidate should be US president in 2012?"

Over the coming months, we plan to add many more issues and several new research projects. We normally launch websites when they are complete; however, we are making an exception to give you our best available content today for use in the upcoming primaries, regardless of how you vote.

Summary Chart
Quiz: Find Your Match
 days to Election Day,
Nov. 6, 2012

2012 Presidential Candidates - Bios and Views
Democrat
Republican
3rd Party / Independent

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Ron Paul

Ron Paul

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney

Virgil Goode

Virgil Goode

Gary Johnson

Gary Johnson

Buddy Roemer

Buddy Roemer

INACTIVE CANDIDATES:
(alpha order)

Bachmann (R)

Cain (R)

Gingrich (R)

Huntsman (R)

Perry (R)

Santorum (R)

Pros & Cons by Category
Abortion
  1. Legal option
  2. Parental consent

China
  3. Threat to US?

Credit Cards
  4. Credit cards

Criminal Justice
  5. Felon voting
  6. Nonviolent drug users

Cuba
  7. Embargo against Cuba

Death Penalty
  8. Legal option

Economy
  9. Bailouts for financial corporations
  10. Bailouts for GM and Chrysler
  11. Debt limit
  12. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
  13. Labor unions
  14. NAFTA
  15. Oil company subsidies
  16. Outsourcing jobs

Education
  17. Abstinence only
  18. No Child Left Behind
  19. Standardized tests
  20. Teacher tenure

Energy
  21. Keystone XL pipeline
  22. New nuclear plants
  23. Oil drilling and gas prices

Environment
  24. ANWR drilling
  25. Global climate change
  26. Clean Air Act and CO2 regulation

Gun Control
  27. Concealed handguns
  28. Federal regulations

Health Care
  29. Federal reforms
  30. Right to health care

Immigration
  31. Access to social services
  32. E-verify system
  33. Federal vs. state/local enforcement
  34. Fence/wall along US-Mexico border
  35. Net impact on economy

Iran
  36. Military force against Iran

Iraq War
  37. Is America safer?
  38. US attack

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
  39. Palestinian statehood

Marriage
  40. Gay marriage
  41. Infidelity and politicians

Medical Marijuana
  42. Federal raids
  43. Legalization

National Service
  44. Draft and national service

Occupy Wall Street
  45. Occupy Wall Street

Religion
  46. Teaching creationism in schools

Social Security
  47. Privatizing

Stem Cells
  48. Fedral research funding

Taxes
  49. Lower taxes = more jobs?
  50. Tax increase
  51. Taxing the wealthy

Tea Party
  52. Tea Party

US Constitution
  53. Alteration

War on Terror
  54. Waterboarding

World Trade Center
  55. "Ground Zero Mosque"

ProCon.org Notices (archived after 30 days)

4/25/2012 - Candidate Finances - According to the Federal Election Commission, the three remaining Republican candidates (Gingrich, Paul, and Romney) have raised $148,098,413 cumulatively, while Democratic President Barack Obama has raised $196,610,770. See how much money each candidate, including third party and independent candidates, has raised and spent, where the money came from, and how much money each candidate currently has on hand.

Archived Notices (archived after 30 days)


Last updated on 5/16/2012 3:57:27 PM PST


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