After months of campaign ads, robocalls, three presidential debates, a vice presidential debate and viral moments involving Big Bird, bayonets and binders full of women, Election Day is right around the corner. A new CNN/ORC poll show a dead heat between Obama and Romney. If you're still undecided, HLNtv.com is here to help.
We've put together a voters guide detailing each of the candidates' stances on major election issues. We want you to be fully informed before you wait in those long lines at the polling places.
ABORTION
Obama: He says he is pro-choice. He says abortion is a choice that should be made without the influence of politicians. He supports Roe vs. Wade. Part of his wide-ranging health care plan requires contraceptives for free for women in workplace health plans, including the morning-after pill.
Romney: He says he is anti-abortion, although he previously supported abortion rights as a candidate for governor in Massachusetts, but changed his position over an embryonic stem-cell bill as governor. He does support abortion in cases of rape and incest. He opposes Roe vs. Wade and plans to stop government funding to Planned Parenthood.
FOREIGN POLICY
Obama: He says he plans to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan in 2014. He also supports sanctions against Iran and wants to prevent the country from developing a nuclear weapon.
Romney: He wants to increase military spending and increase the number of troops and naval ships. He also supports sanctions against Iran and wants to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions. He also supports the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in 2014.
HEALTH CARE
Obama: Signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare in March 2010. It survived a Supreme Court test in June 2012. His plan requires Americans to buy health insurance by 2014 or face a monetary penalty. Obama said it's needed to lower health care costs and give the nearly 50 million of uninsured Americans access to coverage.
Romney: He says one of the first things he plans to do in office is repeal Obama's health care legislation although he signed a similar bill as Massachusetts governor. He wants each state to come up with its own health care plan that's best for its citizens and the federal government will ensure a level playing field for competition.
TAXES (ECONOMY)
Obama: He wants to raise taxes on the wealthy and extend the Bush-era tax cuts for those making under $200,000 and $250,000 for couples.
Romney: He wants to keep Bush-era tax cuts for everyone and would put aside credits, deductions and exemptions for the wealthiest.
ENVIRONMENT
Obama: During his 2008 presidential campaign, he pledged to create 5 million "green" jobs. In May 2012, 3.1 million "green" jobs have been reported, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Romney: He wants to open up more land for oil and gas drilling. He also wants to empower states to control onshore energy development. He also supports the Keystone pipeline.
EDUCATION
Obama: He says he wants to reform the federal Head Smart program. He's already increased funding for the childhood education program. He also has struck down parts of "No Child Left Behind." He has also freed 10 states from the law to give them flexibility to set new higher standads and hold schools accountable. He opposes vouchers, the use of public tax money to pay for tuition at private schools.
Romney: He says he wants to bring back the Bush-era "No Child Left Behind" legislation. He also supports vouchers and replacing "family planning" programs with abstinence classes.
GAY RIGHTS
Obama: He now supports gay marriage having reversed his stance earlier in May. He called the change in his philosophy an "evolution" of his beliefs. Earlier in his presidency, he repealed the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
Romney: He opposes gay marriage and supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. He has said that marriage should be between a man and a woman. However, he supports domestic partnerships.
IMMIGRATION
Obama: He didn't achieve major immigration reform in his first term, but he did grant a two-year work permit to allow immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children.
Romney: Early in his campaign, he called for "self-deportation," saying the undocumented should return home and apply for legal residency in the United States. He has since softened his stance. He also says he would allow people who received the two-year visa. He supports a high-tech fence for 2,000 miles along the Mexico border to prevent illegal immigration.
NATIONAL SECURITY
Obama: Failed to fulfill a campaign promise to close Guantanamo Bay. Instead, trials against terror suspects are still being held in the facility. He expanded the use of unmanned drones against terror targets in Pakistan.
Romney: Wants to keep a detention facility in Guantanamo Bay and continue to hold terrorism trials there. He says constitutional rights should not apply to terrorism suspects.
GUN CONTROL
Obama: Supports the renewal of the assault-weapons ban. After the Aurora, Colorado, theater shootings earlier this year, he has called for a "common sense" approach to assault-weapons ownership. He has said mentally unstable people should not be allowed to own those type of guns.
Romney: Signed an assault-weapons ban while Massachusetts governor, but he opposes stricter gun-control laws. He has said he would not sign any new gun control laws as president out of respect for the Second Amendment.
WOMEN'S RIGHTS
Obama: He signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women fight back against pay discrimination and supports the Paycheck Fairness Act. He also appointed two female Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.
Romney: He said he had more women in senior leadership positions than any other governor and also mentioned he wanted to help more women find jobs. He has said he supports equal pay for women. In regards to the Lilly Ledbetter Act, he says he has no intention of changing the law.
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