The Democratic hopefuls for the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, promise to make history come November, no matter which of them wins. They don't anticipate a win for the Republicans. They believe a Democrat will triumph, and whether it is Barack or Hillary, this country will see either its first African-American president or its first female president.

Coming from opposite ends of the Democratic spectrum, these two began their political journeys in very different ways.

Hillary started her path in the South, attempting to revive a Democratic party that was losing its moderate and conservative voters due to the Reagan era. She and her husband began a top to bottom effort, involving the Democratic Leadership Council, which was more of a highly organized, elite policy shop rather than grass-roots organization.

While Hillary worked her way down from political higher-ups, Barack came from more humble beginnings. He started at the bottom, working inner-city Chicago as a community organizer and serving the underprivileged and ostracized.

The early political stages of each are apparent in their political stylings today. While Hillary has run a well organized, heavily financed and fully staffed campaign, Barack has run on passion and a “national movement,” conjuring the likeness of former president John F. Kennedy. Hillary can work the politicians in Washington. Barack knows the needs of the people.

Barack and Hillary keep their policies regarding top issues for U.S. citizens, such as health care, the housing crisis, Iraq and immigration, consistent with Democratic ideals. These candidates believe in lowering taxes and improving the lives of lower- and middle-class citizens. They promise to make history in the White House, end the war in Iraq, improve the economy and the quality of health care and lead the necessary change in immigration reform. With all these similarities, it might be hard to find where they differ.

Read on for a breakdown of where each candidate stands on four critical issues: Health Care, The Housing Crisis, The War in Iraq and Immigration.

Health Care

Both Barack and Hillary believe in lowering health care premiums and establishing a new, national health care program, while improving quality all-around. They both also believe that people should not be penalized for any pre-existing conditions. While their plans are very similar, there is one significant difference: mandates.

Barack:
Barack's plan mandates health insurance for children, but not for all. His plan also allows young people to remain on their parents' insurance plans until they are 25, while still keeping it optional. He argues the problem isn't that people need to be forced to get health care, it is that people cannot afford it. Also, Barack believes Hillary's mandate will fail because she hasn't proposed reasonable penalties for those who don't comply. He says imposing financial penalties on those who cannot afford a health care plan will hurt them more than help.

Hillary:
Make health care mandatory for all Americans. She argues there can never be universal health care without a mandate. She says that Democrats should “carry the banner of universal health care.” There are numerous people who can afford health insurance but have not gotten it. A mandate would push them to follow through. She defends her plan saying it will be made affordable for everyone, using health care tax credits.

The Housing Crisis

The subprime mortgage crisis intensified in recent years, and some believe it, combined with record-high energy prices, is dragging the U.S. economy into a recession. The major differences in Barack's and Hillary's plans are in regards to where they act. While Barack's plan seeks prevention, Hillary's plan addresses those already facing foreclosure.

Barack:
Prevent mortgage fraud and foreclosures and eliminate predatory lending by cracking down on fraudulent brokers and lenders. Give homebuyers complete and accurate information regarding their mortgage options. Penalties enforced on fraudulent and irresponsible lenders will contribute to a fund that will help homeowners avoid foreclosures by aiding them in refinancing.

Hillary:
Address housing crisis by enforcing three steps on Wall Street: 1. Impose a 90-day moratorium to effect a rate freeze and to help homeowners transition to affordable loans through counseling; 2. Freeze adjustable rate subprime mortgages for at least five years or until they can be converted into fixed rate, affordable loans; 3. Mandate regular status reports from Wall Street on progress toward converting “unworkable” mortgages into affordable loans.

The War in Iraq

Both candidates agree the U.S. should pull out of Iraq, a war they say we should not have waged war in the first place. The major difference between the two? While both agree to a gradual withdrawal, Barack will set a timeline and Hillary will not.

Barack:
Setting a date will send the message to Iraq and the rest of the world that the U.S. is serious. He plans to immediately begin withdrawing troops and to call for a new constitutional convention in Iraq, along with the United Nations, “which would not adjourn until Iraq's leaders reach a new accord on reconciliation.” He also plans to launch an aggressive effort to bring regional diplomacy to the area. He argues that while he has been against this war “since the beginning.” Hillary voted in 2002 to give Bush the authority to wage such a war in the first place.

Hillary:
Hillary also promises to gradually bring the troops back to the U.S. effective immediately after she is voted into office. She also has a plan to press Iraq's leaders and secure stability in the region. She does not, however, believe it is an intelligent decision to set a certain date for troop withdrawal because it could contribute further to government instability. She believes her experience gives her the ability to end the war without endangering U.S. forces. She defended her vote in 2002 by saying she was told the vote was to allow inspectors into Iraq to search for nuclear weapons, “not authority for a pre-emptive war.”

Immigration

Both senators agree the U.S. needs to secure its borders and that it needs immigration reform. They both support a possible path to citizenship for those immigrants that are not criminals, after they pay a fine, begin learning English and wait “in the back of the line.” Where Barack and Hillary differ, however, is in terms of allowing immigrants to obtain driver's licenses.

Barack:
Supports immigrant driver's licenses. He believes immigrants will be less likely to “hit and run” when in car accidents for fear of deportation, if they are allowed to drive in the first place. He criticizes Hillary for her procrastination to take a stance on the issue, which he says has flip-flopped.

Hillary:
She opposes immigrant driver's licenses. She believes giving immigrants driver's licenses will make them easy targets for those who want them prosecuted and deported. She says she will address the issues of immigrant reform and will put changes into place that would make a stance on licenses unnecessary.