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Who will be moving to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue after Nov?

In the US, both major political parties, Democratic and Republican, have chosen their nominees as candidates for the highest office in the land, the Presidency.

In one corner, … 

For the Republicans, their choice is Senator John McCain. McCain, the son of a prominent navy admiral, served as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. in 1967, his plane was shot down, and he ended up a prisoner-of-war till his release in 1973. During his confinement, he was repeatedly beaten up and tortured, his bones broken, and to this day, he does not have the full range of motion in his arms.  So bitter were his memories that, on a return visit to the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” where he was imprisoned, he remarked that he still bore his captors “ill will“.

Nevertheless, McCain is a firm supporter of the Iraq war; in fact, his own son is serving in Iraq, as a US Marine.

Long known as a maverick unafraid to speak his mind, McCain has had to work to win over conservative elements of his own party who view him with mistrust. He is also known for his quick temper. His first run at the presidential nomination was in 2000, which he eventually lost to George W Bush in a bitterly fought campaign.

If he wins the elections in November, he will become the oldest person to ever take up the office of President (he will be 72 on Election Day).

Books by John McCain:

Character is destiny
by John McCain with Mark Salter
New York : Random House, 2005
Call No.: 155.2 MAC

Faith of my fathers
by John McCain with Mark Salter
New York : Random House, c1999.
Call No.: 973.90922 MAC

Why courage matters
by John McCain, with Mark Salter.
New York : Random House, c2004.
Call No.: 179.6 MAC

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And in the other corner,

The candidacy of Barack Obama has captivated the attention of the press, Americans, and of the wider world. Born to an African father and a white American mother, he has been described as America’s first post-racial candidate, and he has overcome long odds to come this far, including defeating his formidable rival Hilary Clinton.

His message of hope and change has been inspiring for many Americans, but doubts remain as to whether he can win over less-educated, working-class voters, or make headway in traditionally Republican strongholds.

At first glance, it would seem improbable that Barack Obama could have prevailed over his rival from New York, Senator Hilary Clinton. He is a first-term senator from Illinois; he was an unknown in national politics; and there was always hovering, in the background, the race question. But in a campaign that will be studied by the political classes and academics for a long time, he overcame all odds.

When he first started contesting, the issue of race cropped up, and the US Secret Service decided to place him under protection some nine months before the first Democractic primary, the earliest ever for a presidential candidate.

One of the reasons for his success so far has been his astonishing ability to raise money, particularly through the Internet, including some $55 million—$45 million through the end of Febuary. The campaign claims to have over 50,000 Internet donors.

Obama’s best-selling memoirs have made him a millionaire. He and his wife reported income of US $4.2 milliion for 2007, with some $4 million, or the vast bulk, coming from the sale of books.

 Books by Barack Obama:

The audacity of hope
by Barack Obama
New York : Three Rivers Press, c2006.
Call No.: 973.04960730092 OBA

Dreams from my father
by Barack Obama
New York : Three Rivers Press, c2004
Call No.: 973.0496762092 OBA

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 About the US Presidential Elections:

1. The post of President and Vice-President are the only elected offices that are decided via nation-wide voting.
2. The election tends to take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
3. It is an indirect process: voters do not directly elect the President, instead, they vote for “electors”, who form up the Electoral College, who then elect the President. It is possible for one candidate to win the popular vote, and still lose. This was what happened to Al Gore in 2000.

For more, you can visit this explanation by the BBC.

Contributed by Nur Hakim Low, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

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