McCAIN would seek to make all of President Bush's rate cuts permanent.

OBAMA favors new tax breaks for seniors and low-income earners, as well as keeping middle-class tax breaks.

McCAIN favors a temporary gas tax holiday, more nuclear plants and tax incentives to encourage development of alternative energy sources.

OBAMA would seek $150 billion over 10 years to develop more clean energy.

OBAMA wants to withdraw most combat troops from Iraq within 16 months.

McCAIN says he'd keep troops in Iraq as long as necessary.

OBAMA would try to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement.

McCAIN would aggressively pursue more free trade deals.

OBAMA favors a bigger Washington role in providing aid to homeowners.

McCAIN is leery of a push he says might snowball into a federal bailout.

OBAMA and McCAIN have similar stands, but there are differences in emphasis.

OBAMA and McCAIN oppose discrimination but split on the issues of unions between couples.

OBAMA and McCAIN both promise programs to discourage abortion but they disagree on legal limits.

McCAIN promises to appoint conservative judges.

OBAMA would lean to the left.

OBAMA proposes a $3.5-billion project to enlarge the Peace Corps and AmericCorps.
McCAIN would expand the AmeriCorps program and tax breaks to leverage private investment in service projects.