Where they stand
Difference of opinion
How the 2012 presidential and vice presidential candidates differ on key issues
Jobs
Supports tying government union wages to private sector wages
Supports free market and business growth
Abortion
Believes life begins at conception
Believes contraception is a personal choice, but advocates abstinence (Nov. 2011)
Supports overturning Roe v. Wade
Gay rights
Supports gay rights, but opposes gay marriage
Supports defining marriage as one man and one woman
Gun control
Supports the Second Amendment and the assault weapon ban
Budget
Supports federal program spending cuts to balance budget
Opposed stimulus package; says it is a war on free enterprise (Nov. 2011)
Ryan
Jobs
Voted yes on extending unemployment benefits from 39 weeks to 59 weeks (Oct. 2008)
Voted no on increasing minimum wage (Jan. 2007)
Abortion
Believes life begins at fertilization
Voted yes on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion (May 2011)
Gay rights
Voted yes on defining marriage as one man and one woman (July 2006)
Voted yes on constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage (Sept. 2004)
Gun control
Voted yes on decreasing gun waiting period from three days to one (June 1999)
Supports national cross-state standard for concealed carry permit
Budget
Voted no on $60 billion stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure and energy (Sept. 2008)
Voted yes on $15 billion General Motors and Chrysler bailout (Dec. 2008)
Obama
Jobs
Supports workers’ rights to organize and strike
Supported economic stimulus plan to spur job growth
Abortion
Supports requiring insurers to provide contraceptives, but not employers (Feb. 2012)
Voted against banning partial-birth abortions (Oct. 2007)
Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women (May 2006)
Gay rights
Supports same-sex marriages (May 2012)
Supports state-level decisions about defining marriage (Oct. 2007)
Gun control
Supports common-sense enforcement on gun licensing (Jan. 2008)
Voted no on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers (July 2005)
Budget
Supports federal programs to protect economy and keep banks accountable
Supported economic stimulus package and bank bailouts
Biden
Jobs
Voted yes on increasing minimum wage (Feb. 2007)
Voted yes on restricting interference in union organizing (July 2007)
Abortion
Supports allowing women to choose, but opposes federal funding (July 2007)
Supports partial-birth abortion ban, but not undoing Roe v. Wade (April 2007)
Gay rights
Supports civil unions and same-sex marriage (May 2012)
Voted no on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage (June 2006)
Gun control
Supports the assault weapons ban (April 2007)
Voted no on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers (July 2005)
Budget
Supports investing in new programs by ending war and tax cuts (April 2007)
Supports middle-class tax cuts (Oct. 2008)
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