Election 2008

Editor's Note: This editorial is a part of The Spectrum's ongoing coverage of the 2008 Presidential Campaign

Before Feb. 5, New York democrats have a decision to make: who will they vote for in the presidential primary?

Without doubt, many voters have practically handed New York's own US Sen. Hillary Clinton the primary victory. While this might be true, it isn't too late for voters to consider whether Clinton is best to be the next leader of the free world.

The differences between Clinton and Illinois' Junior US Sen. Barack Obama, the frontrunners for the Democratic nomination, are vast. Besides the obvious differences, the two candidates offer completely different packages to voters.

Obama, who burst into the national spotlight with a keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, is best known for his calls for "change." After his dramatic win in Iowa, he gave another of his charismatic speeches in which he said, "we are not a collection of Red States and Blue States, we are the United States of America; and at this moment, in this election, we are ready to believe again."

Sounding more and more like a populist, Obama is convincing voters on both sides of the aisle. But his platform isn't unifying. In fact, Obama may be the most liberal democrat in the campaign; in 2006, National Journal had Obama tied to be the 10th most liberal senator, behind big names like Edward Kennedy, Dick Durbin and Patrick Leahy. Clinton, on the other hand, was ranked the 32nd most liberal senator.

Clinton, generally thought to be less liberal than her colleague from Illinois, continues the legacy of her husband; much of her campaigning has referred to the successes of the Clinton years, something she should hardly take credit for.

The difference is that people liked Bill, even after all the controversy. Despite her moderateness, Clinton is one of the most divisive candidates in the entire field. Even in her adopted home state, people either love her or hate her; there is no middle ground.

The situation is unique; usually the moderate candidates are the ones getting votes from Democrats and Republicans. This year it's different: the liberal is the uniter.