Bush vs Kerry: No stones being left unturned

The last presidential election focused primarily on domestic issues. But this election will also emphasise greatly on international issues. The times have changed. The two candidates will have to address a wide range of issues both domestic and international. How these issues are addressed and the ability to find effective solutions to existing problems would form the core of the 2004 US Presidential election. This may mean a long and hard battle, closer than the one fought in 2000.

The Democratic party that ended up as the runner-up the last time round seems to have learned a lesson or two along the way. Two weeks prior to the first primary caucus held in Iowa, Howard Dean was a front-runner and expected to win the primaries. But Senator John Kerry's victory changed all that and since then the Democrats have not faltered in their choice for the next Democratic candidate to challenge the incumbent President. At the end, Senator John Kerry's victory was predictable with the Democrats having much hope to change the tide of this elections in their favour.

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The Democratic primaries were not about candidates bickering at each other and trying hard to find a significant difference where very little existed. This is not to say criticism were not traded, for what would politics be without them but simply the tirades were more measured and polite to say the least. It was a primary that focussed on what they saw as the weakness of the Bush administration from the wear in Iraq to the growing trade deficit. Therefore, it was apparent from the very beginning that the exercise was to search for an effective leader and not just a candidate with good oratory skills and likeability among voters. At the end, voters decided Senator John Kerry had the quality of a leader to lead them victory.

The Democratic primaries have ended and now the very candidates that stood on opposing lines will rally together united in their single objective to win the Presidential race, and erase the defeat of the past. For the Republicans, it is a challenge to contest the accusations of its opponent with effectiveness and create optimism where there is none. For the Democrats it is to bring attention to all that is wrong and what they can do to make it right. As for the voters, it is an onslaught of speeches, interviews, advertisements and more false promises and hopes that things will be better. It is their vote that would decide whether they would give President Bush another opportunity to continue or Senator John Kerry a chance to show what he has to give.

The election in the US will also have an impact on the present global scenario. Both President Bush and Senator John Kerry have a different outlook on the role the US should play in the global arena. Iraq is an important component of that role. Senator Kerry had voted for the War in Iraq but since then has maintained that he had been misled by the President. He does not regret his decision to vote in favour of the war but regrets the way President Bush has gone about handling it. While President Bush still seems unsure about the UN role in Iraq, Senator Kerry says that the UN involvement is a necessity to make the operation in Iraq more international. The reconstruction of Afghanistan will also figure prominently in the elections with the Bush administration already pledging $1 billion towards reconstruction in Afghanistan. Senator Kerry has argued that it is not enough to a situation that requires greater international involvement and attention. As for Middle East, President Bush has encouraged a "road map" plan while Senator Kerry feels it is necessary to first address the social, political and economic circumstances truly to have lasting peace in the region.

Elections are not simply about international issues but also crucial domestic ones. Health care will figure largely in debates. President Bush will defend his stance to have prescription drugs benefits added to medicare while Senator Kerry plans to make tougher laws for drug companies and create better benefits for veterans and seniors. As recession continues, Taxes and Spending will be an important part of domestic issues. President Bush during his administration has already signed two bills cutting taxes but it is very doubtful that another tax cut can be afforded with a growing deficit and security expenses. Senator John Kerry believe he can change that by providing child tax credit and revoking tax cuts to the rich by narrowing the deficit with decreased spending and addressing corporate ambiguities. President Bush states that the tax cuts made in 2001 and 2003 has allowed the economy to grow and new jobs to be created. Senator Kerry does not share this optimism and would use latest unemployment statistics to demonstrate the faltering economy. Senator Kerry will emphasise his plan to encourage workers to be trained, help small businesses and offer incentives and tax credits to those business that will employ or shift to struggling smaller rural communities.

These are only some of the vast number of issue that the candidates would have to address in the coming months. It does not mater if the candidates will be able to effectively deliver what they promise in the end as long as the people are able to assess where they are going with it all.

At the end the question remains can Senator John Kerry truly make a difference to a Presidential race that seems a forgone conclusion by some? After all primaries are starkly different from a Presidential race. The politeness and measured criticisms maintained in a primary will give way to open disparagement and downright meanness. Every word will come under scrutiny and the very motives of the candidates explored on every issue.

Skeletons, if any will tumble from the past and no stones will be left unturned by either side for the victory to come at last.

Fatima Chowdhury is a freelance journalist staying in Kolkata.