For me, here are the major issues of this campaign.

1. The Iraq War. I thought it was a mistake before we went in there, and my fears came true, as we're still there 6 years later, with troop "surges" instead of decreases, and with a country that's a mess by most accounts and with not a much better prognosis than before the war.

2. The economy. Can't really blame this totally on the Republicans or on Bush, except for the massive spending on #1 on my list. But I do think more regulation is needed, as much as the libertarian in me would rather the government get their hands off stuff. That only works if the people at the top are concerned for their companies as much as they are with lining their own pockets.

3. Health Care. No one's got a solution, really, and I believe NO ONE WILL GET ONE. But I like Obama's bandaid (more flexibility in insurance coverage and a government plan that people can buy into at a reasonable rate) than I do McCain's (taxing health care benefits then giving a tax credit of 5000 dollars when I'd bet the average cost of a family's plan is upward of 12 grand a year...I read 14K somewhere). Everyone talks about controlling rising costs, but no one talks about controlling some of the underlying issues that drive up costs, and that goes to both candidates.

4. Taxes. I obviously like the idea of not being taxed as much. I don't like the idea of rebating tax dollars to citizens who already pay no taxes, which is, I believe, part of what Obama is proposing. McCain's proposals definitely benefit me more. I also don't think that taxing capital gains higher is good in the short run. I think these sorts of taxes penalize small investors more than big ones. But OTOH, when you can't cut expenses, you have to raise revenues, and tax cuts just seem irresponsible at a time when we're paying for a war (that we shouldn't be) and needing to address upcoming shortfalls in Medicare and Social Security, as well as health care for the rest of the population.

5. Patriot Act. I do not really like government intrusion into my life. Not because I have much of anything to hide, but because I think it sets a bad precedent. I really don't know where either candidate stands on this issue, but I think it's an important issue, the potential significance of which is completely overlooked by the voters. I suspect Obama would take a less intrusive stance on this one. I suspect McCain would be more in favor of expanding the "powers" that the Patriot Act allows law enforcement to invoke. I'm not sure of that.

6. Our standing in the world. I would like to see us regain our respected status in the world. I'm thinking Obama will do more in this respect than McCain. He's more statesman-like.

(addition)7. Science. I would prefer an administration that is going to support GOOD science, not science that is promoted only by those with some other agenda. I don't see that as being the Republicans, with Palin on the ticket.

Whoever wins, I hope they come back a little to the center. I think that's where we need to be as a country