ABSTRACT
Senator Hillary Clinton is a powerful political figure. She obtained nearly a majority of the popular votes in the democratic primaries. The length of the primary season for the Democratic Party has strengthened the candidates' skills and resolve. Senator Barack Obama's goes into the presidential contest as a much better candidate for it. But to guarantee garnering all the Electoral College votes needed, the Democratic Party coalition requires full-hearted support from Senator Clinton. Senator John McCain's strengths are based on his long trajectory of public service, starting in the early 1960s with the United States (US) Navy—including combat and administrative positions—and all the way to his four terms as US senator from Arizona. Senator McCain's path to the nomination made it clear that his greatest strength is also his greatest weakness. The appeal that Mc-Cain has for "independents and centrists" tends to alienate the conservative core of the Republican Party, especially in the Southern states and conservative constituencies.
