Issues shaping 2008 White House race

As the race for the White House hots up, every word spoken by the Democratic and Republican candidates will be scrutinised and every inch of their records pored over.
Their policies on the Iraq war, bitterly contested between the parties, are sure to dominate campaigning.
Other likely hot topics include the economy, immigration, national security, health care reform and social issues such as abortion, gay rights and gun control.
Each candidate in the presidential race will be striving to present a stance on key issues both consistent with what he or she has said in the past and acceptable to voters in 2008.
And each campaign will be seeking to highlight weaknesses and apparent "flip-flops" - or sudden changes of policy - in rivals' records.

Winning the party nomination is the first battle for White House hopefuls
The battle has already begun, with Republicans and Democrats put to the test in a series of live televised debates.
Until each party's nomination for the presidential election is made, candidates are likely to focus more on defeating rivals within their own camp than those in the opposing party. Certain issues, however, like funding for the Iraq war, have prompted attacks across party lines.
Following the primaries early next year, the chosen nominees from the Democratic and Republican parties will take the fight to each other in earnest - and concentrate on winning votes.
The Iraq problem
The issue of Iraq remains bitterly divisive and is unlikely to go away any time soon.
It was a major factor in the Republicans' defeat in the November 2006 mid-term elections and recent polls suggest a majority of Americans view it as a top concern and want US troops home as soon as possible.
KEY ISSUES

Iraq war
Economy
National security
Immigration
Health care reform
Social issues
Leading candidates' policies
Iraq looms over race
The Democratic contenders have presented a more or less united front on the issue, with all attacking the Bush administration's handling of the war and calling for withdrawal of US troops.
However, there are still differences between them. Hillary Clinton voted to authorise the 2003 invasion but has repeatedly said since that had she known then what she knows now, she would have acted differently.
Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards also voted in favour in 2003, but has since apologised for doing so. Illinois Senator Barack Obama has always opposed the war.
Meanwhile all the Republicans hopefuls except Texas Congressman Ron Paul have voiced broad support for the Iraq war, although some have questioned its handling.
Arizona Senator John McCain has been a prominent backer of President George W Bush's current "surge strategy" of sending extra troops to Baghdad.
Money, money, money
Exit polls after the mid-term elections showed that domestic issues - particularly the economy, national security and corruption - were as important as Iraq in deciding people's vote.

The economy is a concern as voters feel the pinch of high gas prices
At a time of concern over high petrol prices, a weakening US housing market and slow economic growth, candidates will be keen to show they have policies that will help the large number of middle class voters hit by rising costs but stagnant wages.
Republican contenders have talked of the need for fiscal responsibility and limited government, but have mostly emphasised their commitment to tax cuts over reduced spending. They accuse the Democrats of wanting to raise taxes.
Democrats in turn accuse the Bush administration of leading a reckless fiscal policy and say their party seeks greater fairness. They are likely to extend the president's tax cuts - most of which are due to expire in 2010 - to middle and lower income families and roll back tax cuts intended only for the wealthiest Americans.
Both parties face a challenge if they are to meet the electorate's desire for the federal budget deficit to be reduced at the same time as relieving the tax burden on the middle classes.
America's safety
National security has been a recurrent theme in the presidential debates and in campaigning, with Democrats in particular keen to repudiate any suggestion they are softer than the Republicans on terror.

All candidates want to appear tough on national security
Rudy Giuliani has frequently referred to his leadership experience as New York's mayor after the 9/11 attacks.
Meanwhile, Ms Clinton made clear at the first Democratic debate in South Carolina that if America were to be attacked, she would not shy from retaliation, "a military response", if appropriate.
The issue has been complicated by President Bush's frequent assertions that early withdrawal from Iraq would expose the US to greater risk of terror attacks.
The link that he draws has been challenged by Sen Edwards, however, who has accused Mr Bush of using the idea of a "global war on terror" to justify failing policies in Iraq and elsewhere.
Immigration battle
The immigration debate has also played into the question of national security, with several candidates arguing the need for tougher border controls to prevent potential terrorists entering the country.

The issue of illegal immigration is likely to dog campaigning
The issue of how to tackle illegal immigration, which polls place among voters' top concerns - and to do so without alienating the large Hispanic electorate - is causing divisions within the parties as well as between them.
Sen McCain has come under pressure from fellow Republicans for his support of a compromise Senate bill which critics say offers an amnesty to illegal immigrants already in the country. The legislation has been opposed by almost all his rivals for the Republican nomination, who want tougher measures.
Bill Richardson, Democratic governor of New Mexico and the nation's first Hispanic presidential hopeful, has withdrawn his initial backing for the bill saying it risks tearing immigrant families apart. Senators Obama and Clinton have both voiced reservations.
Health check
Polls suggest health care could also emerge as a big issue, with a majority of Americans saying the current system needs major reform and that the federal government has a role to play in that process.
At least 45 million Americans are without health insurance, while tens of millions more have very real concerns about their employers' ability or willingness to continue paying their health costs.
Republican candidate and former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, who was Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2001 to 2005, has said he will put health care at the centre of his campaign.
The main Democratic contenders have all said they favour universal health insurance but have outlined different ideas about what changes are needed and how to pay for them. Mr Edwards has been the only one to talk about raising taxes to help meet the cost.
Ethical issues
The question of abortion is proving especially problematic for the top three Republican candidates, Sen McCain, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Mr Giuliani, who face challenges on their more nuanced views from strong anti-abortion candidates Governor Mike Huckabee, Governor Jim Gilmore and Sen Sam Brownback.

Candidates will be challenged over apparent policy flip-flopsHowever, they may draw comfort from Pew Research Center studies which show only 7% of likely Republican voters rate it as the most important issue in choosing a candidate and that only 18% favour a total ban on abortion.
Contenders' positions on stem cell research, gun control and gay rights may also come to the fore, with the voting records of the front-runners likely to be under the spotlight.
It remains to be seen whether a controversial position on any issue on its own will be enough to make or break a candidate's run for the White House.
After all, Mr Giuliani continues to poll well, despite bucking the ideals of his party's support base with his two divorces and belief in a woman's right to choose over abortion.
But what is clear is that as the field narrows in the run-up to polling day in 2008, the views on crunch issues of the would-be presidents will be under the microscope as never before.