natcom.orgAs the Republican candidate debates continue and the rhetoric gets heated, let’s take a step back for a moment to understand what’s actually going on in U.S. politics. Canadians know very well that what happens across the border can have a considerable impact on them, and many seem to watch the American elections closer than their own. So here’s a low-down on the election process and the key issues to give you a launch pad for critical understanding when watching the debates.
The Election Process
The presidential election will be held on Nov. 6, once each party has nominated its candidate. Delegates from each state vote for the winner of the primary election of caucus within their state at the Republican national convention in August.
To win the presidency, a candidate needs to reach the magic number of 270, the minimum number of electors they must win out of a total 538 electors.
Each state is divided into congressional districts based on its population. The greater the state’s population, the more congressional districts it has. The number of districts is added to the number of senators in the state (always two) to get the number of electors for that state. So, for example, if a state has 10 congressional districts, it has 12 electors.
As the public votes, the candidate with the most votes in a state wins that state. In turn, the candidate wins the total number of electors from that state. The states with the most influence are California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Winning in these states gives a candidate a significant edge in the election due to their high number of electors. Once a candidate has won the majority of electors, 270 or more, they have won the election.
Who Are the Candidates
There are currently four republican candidates: Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum. So far, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are the two most successful candidates, with Romney gaining a considerable lead over the other three.
Timeline of Main Election Events
March 6: “Super Tuesday.” With more than 10 different primaries occurring on this date, including primaries in Texas, Massachusetts, and Virginia, it has the potential to determine the Republican nominee.
April 3: Maryland, Wisconsin, and Washington DC primaries
April 24: New York and Pennsylvania primaries
June 5: California primary
August 27-30: Republican national convention in Tampa, Florida
September 3-6: Democratic national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina
October 3: First presidential debate in Denver, Colorado
October 11: Vice-presidential debate in Danville, Kentucky
October 16: Second presidential debate in Hempstead, New York
October 22: Final presidential debate in Boca Raton, Florida
November 6: Presidential and congressional elections
Key Issues
The Economy
In 2008, the sub-prime mortgage crisis hit when the housing market bubble burst. Thanks to spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, combined with the 2008 economic downturn, the U.S. economy has been thrown into an unfavourable situation. Moreover, the unemployment rate has been exceptionally high for the past few years. This past Friday, Feb. 3, however, it was announced that 243,000 jobs were created in January, causing the unemployment rate to drop to 8.3 per cent, the lowest rate in three years.
Barack Obama With regards to reducing the country’s debt, President Obama favours a combination of spending cuts and tax revenues. To help the economy grow, he seeks to provide job-creating investments in infrastructure, health care, energy, and education.
Mitt Romney To solve America’s debt problem, Romney wants to cut federal spending, to reform entitlement programs, and to reduce the size of the federal government. To create jobs and economic growth, he proposes cutting the top corporate income tax, promoting domestic energy production, weakening labour unions, and eliminating capital gains and dividend taxes for some. He argues that his superior business skills provide him with an advantage over others for solving the economic situation.
Newt Gingrich Gingrich emphasizes the need for economic growth to tackle the debt problem through methods such as reforming Medicare and Social Security and ‘freeing job-creators.’ Like Romney, he proposes cutting the capital gains tax as well as cutting corporate income tax rates and offering the American public the choice of opting into a 15 per cent flat tax.
The Stragglers
Rick Santorum: He proposes reducing corporate taxes for manufacturers and expanding energy exploration to tackle the economic problems.
Ron Paul: He advocates for eliminating many taxes, reducing the president’s salary, and reducing the federal budget by one trillion dollars.
Healthcare
On Mar. 23, 2010 the Obama administration enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), sometimes referred to as ‘Obamacare.’ Its principal aim was to reform health insurance, and it remains a controversial topic. The reform plan laid out many changes which would gradually take place over a four-year timespan, with most reforms taking place by 2014. Under this reform, each state has a Medicaid program to provide health coverage to those of lower-income status, families, children, the elderly, and those with disabilities. A person’s eligibility varies by state.
What the Candidates are Saying
Barack Obama President Obama will continue to defend the PPACA. More specifically, he aims to make modest adjustments to Medicare and Medicaid to avoid, as he puts it, wasteful subsidies. In addition, he argues for a quicker approval process for generic drugs and higher pay for doctors.
Mitt Romney Romney seeks to repeal Obama’s healthcare reform. In its place, he proposes market-based reforms which he believes will reduce healthcare costs. He states that on his first day in office he will issue an executive order which would provide waivers from Obama’s healthcare reform to all 50 states.
Newt Gingrich Gingrich believes that Americans should be allowed to buy insurance plans provided in other states than where they live. He proposes tax credits and deductions for premiums. In addition, he advocates for the creation of a ‘High Risk Pool’ in each state to provide coverage for those too ill or otherwise unable to qualify for insurance.
The Stragglers
Rick Santorum: He seeks to fully repeal Obama’s health care reforms.
Ron Paul: Ron Paul also seeks to repeal Obama’s health
care reforms and advocates for allowing citizens to purchase health care insurance from states other than their own.
Immigration
The issue of illegal immigration has always been a debated subject in the United States. With the unemployment rate high, many point to illegal immigrants as one of the sources limiting available jobs to Americans. Starting off the New Year, Obama announced a new immigration rule change which will allow family members of U.S. citizens to seek a hardship waiver from the government. This will allow them to avoid long periods of separation from their family in the U.S. while their applications for legal status are being reviewed.
What the Candidates are Saying
Barack Obama President Obama advocates for increased border security and penalties for companies hiring undocumented workers. He also seeks to expand immigration quotas. His recent change to immigration rules has earned him a leg up with Hispanic and Latino groups.
Mitt Romney He seeks to set up a system ensuring employers hire only legal immigrants. In addition, he proposes building a border fence with Mexico.
Newt Gingrich Gingrich asserts that English should be made the official national language and promises strict border control. Also, he advocates for a streamlined visa process for legal immigrants.
The Stragglers
Rick Santorum: Santorum proposes the construction of a fence along the border with Mexico.
Ron Paul: To tackle the problem of illegal immigration he seeks to eliminate welfare and to stop providing amnesty to illegal immigrants.
