A Voter's Guide to the Economy

The middle class is the backbone of our economy, the key to real growth.

With her emphasis on healthcare programs and middle-class tax breaks, she sticks to reliabley popular Democratic themes on the economy.

SPENDING: The federal debt has grown 50% under Bush. How would the candidates balance the budget?

She would implement strict spending rules, ike those in the 1990s, so new costs are paid for by raising money or making cuts.

TAXES: Should Bush's tax cuts for families making more than $250,000 be eliminated?

She would end Bush's tax cuts and use the money to create tax breaks for health care, child care, retirement and college tuition.

TRADE: Free trade leads to growth, but there are costs too. Should there be limits.

Concerned about job losses, she calls for a "time-out" from new trade deals until she can form a new proworker trade policy.

HEALTH CARE: What would the candidates do about soaring costs and the 47 million uninsured?

She passionately supports mandatory, uniersal health-care coverage, with employers and government sharing most of the costs.

ENERGY: All agree that energy independence is a worthy goal. How will the candidates get there?

She would raise fuel-efficiency standards and invest in alternative energy through a $50 billion fund financed partly by oil companies.