Barack Obama

As an independent and fiscal conservative, I admit feeling trepidation about a Democratic Congress and president. That said, I am convinced that Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the right team.

Nations' economies, climates and societies are increasingly interconnected. John McCain and Sarah Palin's black-and-white thinking, and Palin's lack of curiosity and humility, are the opposite of what we need.

Barack Obama is curious, a terrific communicator, a solid leader based on the quality of his campaign, bright and pragmatic. These qualities are needed in the White House if we want our nation and world to be better off than we are today.

-- Kay Plantes, Madison

John McCain

John McCain is a proven man of courage, duty and honor who strives to place his country first. His policies will favor free enterprise and will avoid the tyrannies of government control, regulation, taxation and suppression of liberties.

His policies will assure a strong defense of America. There are those whose goal is to destroy our way of life.

Barack Obama's policies, in comparison, will promote socialism -- governmental ownership and redistribution of wealth. In foreign policy, his style will be talkative and his positions weak -- "peace" and capitulation to a strong adversary.

McCain will lead with conviction, fairness, experience and wisdom.

-- Don Hilbig, Beloit

Chuck Baldwin

I intend to vote for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party because I believe the two major parties have led us into a decline along with a constant expansion of the central government.

We need to restore the U.S. Constitution as the law of the land. Otherwise the U.S. will eventually resemble the former Soviet Union.

-- Frank Fleres, Madison

Ralph Nader

None of the above. Ralph Nader and Ron Paul make more sense. Paul would be great, but I'm voting for Nader.

Neither Barack Obama nor John McCain are headed in the right direction. They are part of the problem, and Joe Biden is the worst of them all.

-- Thomas Foulk, Mazomanie