The following information on the Democratic presidential candidates has been compiled from the Congressional Record, speeches and statements on campaign Web sites. Technology Daily also contacted the campaigns for information on a series of technology-related issues, but not all of them responded. The information from those who did is incorporated here.

Democrats
Biden|Clinton|Dodd|Edwards|Gravel|Kucinich|Obama|Richardson
Republicans
Giuliani|Huckabee|Hunter|McCain|Paul|Romney|Tancredo|Thompson

	Sen. Joe Biden, Delaware Biden serves as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and on the Judiciary Committee, and in the past has focused efforts on combating piracy. LEGISLATION Sponsored: An anti-counterfeiting bill in 2002. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the measure. Co-sponsored: A bill requiring that Senate candidates file designations, statements and reports in electronic form. Voted for: An amendment to allocate funds to implement the REAL ID Act, which requires standardized driver's licenses and other identification documents. Voted against: A 2007 amendment, which would have prevented the FCC from reinstating the "fairness doctrine;" -- And an amendment to the 2007 patent overhaul bill, which would impose lighter penalties in lawsuits than a separate amendment proposed. ON THE ISSUES File-sharing: "Over the past few years, we have seen a staggering increase in the amount of intellectual property pirated over the Internet through peer-to-peer systems," Biden said in a letter he and other lawmakers wrote asking the Justice Department to prosecute peer-to-peer file-sharing companies that facilitate mass piracy. "The online theft of our nation's creative works is a growing threat to our culture and economy." Outsourcing of jobs: "We've got to make it more attractive to have jobs here in America and for corporations to be here," Biden said at a June 28 presidential debate. "You've got to take the burden off the corporations with a health care system that's universal, so we're not at a competitive disadvantage. You've got to have a better education system to provide for the highest-tech jobs that we educate our folks for, so we're not importing 400,000 computer engineers to work in Silicon Valley. And you've got to deal with the innovation and infrastructure needs in this country -- tunnels, bridges, et cetera -- which we haven't done to make us more competitive." Spectrum auction: Biden said he wants to set aside airwaves for public-safety use. Wiretaps without warrants: The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act "isn't a high hurdle -- but it does require the executive branch to justify the extraordinary surveillance of citizens to a judicial officer," Biden said in a floor statement. "Congress must stand up to this presidential overreaching, examine what occurred, and provide corrective action."
	Sen. Hillary Clinton, New York Clinton incorporates tech policy into nearly all of her platform and is an advocate for the potential of American technological innovation. LEGISTLATION Sponsored: In 2005, a bill that would limit kids' exposure to violent video games; a bill authorizing a position dedicated to energy technology research; and a bill aimed at protecting privacy rights in electronic transactions. Co-sponsored: S. 215, restricting high-speed Internet providers from discriminating against competitors by offering preferential treatment to companies for a fee. -- S.428, which would ensure emergency personnel can trace 911 calls made using voice-over-Internet-protocol. -- S. 1693, which would make the health information technology coordinator's office permanent and would provide legislative support to many of the initiatives under way in the HHS office and elsewhere in the executive branch. Clinton also co-sponsored a similar bill that the Senate passed unanimously in the 109th Congress. -- And S.223, which would require that Senate candidates file designations, statements and reports in electronic form. Voted for: A 2005 resolution disapproving of FCC media-ownership rules and a 2003 resolution, which aimed to disallow FCC approval of larger media conglomerates. The Senate passed both measures. SUPPORTERS Endorsements: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y.; and Steven Spielberg, movie director. Contributors: Roger Bamford, Oracle; Vinay Bhargava, Google; and Mark Chandler, Cisco Systems. ON THE ISSUES E-voting: Clinton told the Senate Rules and Administration Committee that Congress needs to ensure that technologies help voters, not disenfranchise them. Her plan would require paper audit trails for votes. H-1B visas: In a speech before Silicon Valley executives, Clinton said she would expand the visa program for highly skilled workers and reinvest the profits into training for U.S. workers. National broadband strategy: "Just as we had a railroad system that connected our country, an electrification system, an interstate highway system, an airport system, we have to have a broadband system," Clinton said in a statement. "And unfortunately, other countries are gaining on us and surpassing us, and that gives them economic advantages." She supports the government taking an active role in ensuring broadband access and believes extending the availability of high-speed Internet to low-income and rural areas cannot be left to market forces, Tech Daily reported. Network neutrality: Supports. Outsourcing jobs: "Over the long term and maybe the median turn, red-ink fiscal policies will undermine America's competitiveness," Clinton said before the Economic Club of Chicago. "We have to ask ourselves whether our taxing and spending policies are in line with our economic goals. Do we have the right priorities and values in the federal budget?" She has has encountered some criticism for conflicts of interest between her fight for the middle class and courting of high-tech experts from India and other competitors. Privacy: "We don't need to abandon our cherished rights. We don't need more false debates -- liberty versus security, privacy versus danger," Clinton said in a speech before the American Constitution Society. "What we need is to come together and develop a consensus about how to protect our privacy in a more data-driven and dangerous world. If we want to protect our safety and our privacy, we need clear guidelines and we need to get smart about technologies." Videogames: Clinton called upon the FTC to investigate sexually explicit material in the "Grand Theft Auto: San Andres" videogame, BBC News reported.
	Sen. Christopher Dodd, Connecticut Dodd was vice chairman of the special committee on the Year 2000 computer problem. LEGISLATION Sponsored: A bill reserving money from spectrum auctions and fees from airwaves to pay for innovation and educational technology; and a bill revising immigration law to protect U.S. jobs. Co-sponsored: S. 223, which would require Senate candidates to file designations, statements and reports in electronic form. Voted for: A 2003 resolution, which aimed to disallow FCC approval of larger media conglomerates. The Senate passed the measure. -- An Internet sales tax moratorium amendment, which aimed to allow states to require companies who do business there solely by phone, mail or the Internet to collect state sales taxes. Voted against: An amendment to prevent the FCC from reinstituting the "fairness doctrine" that requires equal time on the airwaves for controversial issues. SUPPORTERS Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. ON THE ISSUES Health IT: "Some $80 [billion] or $90 billion could be saved, not to mention the morbidity rates by doing a far better job and utilizing the technology that exists today to see to it that people have an opportunity to improve their health conditions," Dodd said at a 2007 health forum. Net neutrality: Supports. Outsourcing: "What is self-evident is that the status quo is not acceptable," Dodd said before the Senate Judiciary Committee. "American workers have a right to expect Congress to do what is necessary to protect their jobs -- so that they will be able to continue to provide for their families. I intend to work to change the status quo with respect to the L-1 and H-1B programs." Spectrum auction: Would earmark revenue from spectrum auctions to pay for innovation and educational technology.
	Former Sen. John Edwards, North Carolina Edwards has established a strong Web presence and is the only candidate to have written to the FCC in favor of "open access" rules for the upcoming auction of airwaves in the 700-megahertz band of specrtrum. LEGISLATION Sponsored: 2002 Legislation to protect against cyber terrorism and cyber crime. Co-sponsored: A 2003 resolution, which would have expressed disapproval of the rule submitted by the FCC with respect to broadcast media ownership. The Senate passed the measure. -- A 2001 bill to establish a digital network technology program. A Senate committee approved the measure. -- A 2000 bill which would have provided tax incentives to improve broadband access. -- A 2000 competitiveness bill, which temporarily lifted the annual cap on H1-B visas and called for a National Science Foundation report on the "digital divide." The measure was signed into law in October 2000. SUPPORTERS Endorsements: David Mariner, outfordemocracy.org; House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar, D-Minn. Skip Paul, Sega Gameworks ON THE ISSUES Innovation: Edwards promised to keep political ideology out of science to promote innovation when he addressed business leaders of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. He also vowed to make permanent the research and development tax credit, AP reported. According to his innovation agenda, Edwards would reverse the demotion of the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and restore the office to a central role as an assistant to the president, a rank held in previous administrations. He would also aim to restore America's leadership in science and math education by improving schools and expanding college opportunities. National broadband plan: Edwards would institute a national policy to bring broadband Internet service to all U.S. homes and businesses by 2010, according to his Web site. Net neutrality: Supports. Outsourcing: "Our place in the world is not preordained," Edwards said before the London School of Economics. "Countries like China and India are not in a race to get our low-wage jobs; they are in a race to be on the cutting edge of technology and innovation. Their young men and women are educated as never before. They have learned that in order to be an economic power and leader, innovation is the ticket." Patent reform: "The patent system sometimes encourages greater investment in profitable but minor innovation than in the costly and speculative research that generates true breakthroughs," according to his Web site. "Edwards will convene an expert panel to explore whether there are certain key disorders where prizes for breakthroughs -- as an alternative to patent monopolies -- would offer new incentives. Prizes would supplement, but not replace, the current patent system." Trade: Edwards criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement in a speech in Iowa saying that presidents in the past have entered into trade agreements promising that they would create millions of new jobs and enrich communities. "Instead, too many of these agreements have cost jobs and devastated towns and communities across this country," he said. Wiretaps without warrants: Edwards told one questioner in Iowa that the approval of a new law, which temporarily gives the government authority to wiretap international telephone calls and e-mail messages of American citizens without warrants, was a "bad idea."
	Former Sen. Mike Gravel, Alaska Gravel supports an open and democratic Internet where citizens can go to engage politically. ON THE ISSUES Competitiveness: "A consumption-based tax will produce a more equitable distribution of the tax burden and make American business more competitive internationally," a spokesman said. Databases for background checks: "Senator Mike Gravel is not opposed to background checks," the spokesman said, "provided that privacy laws are respected and those rejected on the basis of background checks are provided with timely details regarding why their entrance was denied." E-government: He believes that the Internet is a key tool in working toward a federal law that would ensure citizens participation in the lawmaking process. "In order to realize the full potential of the Internet, the legislative powers of government must be redistributed to permit the people to make laws in a parallel partnership with their elected legislators, nationally and in every local and state government jurisdiction of the United States," he said in a letter to Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. Internet taxation: "Senator Mike Gravel is adamantly opposed to any tax on the Internet or any restrictions limiting its use," a spokesman said. Network neutrality: Gravel "guarantees a free and open Internet with no restricted access to any site, for any reason" and will preserve net neutrality "by supporting legislation and regulation that keeps you in control of your Internet usage," according to his Web site. Trade: "Outsourcing is not the problem. What is the problem is our trade agreements that we have that benefit the management and, of course, the shareholders, and have neglected on either side of the issue, whether it's in Mexico or in other countries or the United States," Gravel said at a June 28 presidential debate. Wiretaps without warrants: He is opposed to any illegal monitoring of U.S. citizens, a spokesman said.
	Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Ohio Kucinich is a former television analyst and a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States. LEGISLATION Co-sponsored: H.R. 1117, to repeal part of the REAL ID Act and provide states more flexibility and funding for implementing national identification standards. ON THE ISSUES Border security: "I oppose giving the Department of Defense control over border security," he said. "In our democracy, it is critical that we preserve the distinction between our armed forces and domestic law enforcement. Also, I am concerned about the threat of vigilantes intimidating or attacking individuals at the border. Border security is a job for state and local authorities, not soldiers or vigilantes." H-1B visas: "The expanded use of H-1B and L-1 visas has had a negative effect on the workplace of information technology workers in America," Kucinich said. "It has caused a reduction in wages. It has forced workers to accept deteriorating working conditions and allowed U.S. companies to concentrate work in technical and geographic areas that American workers consider undesirable. It has also reduced the number of IT jobs held by Americans." Outsourcing: "The exodus of jobs from our shores and the 'race to the bottom' for workers around the world is an obvious result of NAFTA and the WTO, both of which make it impossible to place taxes or tariffs on outsourced work," Kucinich said. "Canceling NAFTA and the WTO will enable the U.S. to protect high-tech jobs from outsourcing. This, plus careful monitoring of H-1B visa practices, will slow the tide of outsourcing." Wiretaps without warrants: "The recent disclosures of the president's refusal to follow the FISA law should worry all Americans concerned with the dangers posed by a too-powerful executive," Kucinich said. "We elect presidents, not kings, and no president is above a clearly written law expressly curbing his powers."
	Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois Obama has received substantial support from key players in the technology sector. LEGISLATION Sponsored: In 2006, bill to promote the use of information technology in the federal employee health benefits program; a bill to make information on spending earmarks available online; and a bill which would have prohibited the use of telecommunications devices for the purpose of preventing or obstructing the broadcast or exchange of election-related information. Co-sponsored: S. 215 on network neutrality; and S. 223, which would require Senate candidates to file designations, statements and reports in electronic form. SUPPORTERS Donations: Mark Andreessen, Netscape; Peter Currie, Netscape; Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs; Eskander Kazim, eBay; David Keller, Cisco Systems; John Moussouris, Micro Unity; Susan Orr, Telosa Software; and Ram Shriram, Amazon.com and Google investor. ON THE ISSUES Border fence: More personnel, better infrastructure and advanced technology are needed to protect the integrity of U.S. borders, according to Obama's campaign Web site. Competitiveness and innovation: "If we want an innovation economy, one that generates more Googles each year, then we have to invest in our future innovators -- by doubling federal funding of basic research over the next five years, training 100,000 or more engineers and scientists over the next four years, or providing new research grants to the most outstanding early-career researchers in the country," Obama said. Digital TV: Obama is working with members of the Commerce Committee on plans to publicize the transition from analog to digital broadcasts, and would ensure that those with lower incomes receive vouchers to help pay for converter boxes that will allow them to continue receiving the signal, his spokesman said. File-sharing: "Senator Obama supports enforcement efforts to protect intellectual property but would encourage the Internet and content creation communities to work together to address the challenge of ensuring that intellectual property is respected and its creation and sale are profitable in the digital age," the spokesman said. H-1B visas: "Senator Obama would supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes improvement in our visa programs to attract some of the world's most talented people to America. However, Senator Obama would like to see immigrant workers less dependent on their employers for their right to stay in the country and would hold accountable employers who abuse the system and their workers." Internet taxation: "Senator Obama wants to ensure that the Internet becomes universally deployed and that we significantly increase the percentage of people who can afford and sign up for the service," a spokesman said, adding that Obama would support a temporary extension of the tax moratorium on Internet access. National broadband: "Senator Obama believes that America should lead the world in broadband penetration and Internet access, and he is committed to ensuring that inner cities and rural areas are not left behind. He believes we can get true broadband service to every community in America through a combination of reform of the universal service fund, better use of the nation's wireless spectrum, promotion of next-generation facilities, technologies and applications, and new tax and loan incentives." Net neutrality: Supports. "It is because the Internet is a neutral platform that I can put out this podcast and transmit it over the Internet without having to go through any corporate media middleman," Obama said in a podcast on his Senate Web site. "I can say what I want without censorship or without having to pay a special charge. But the big telephone and cable companies want to change the Internet as we know it." Outsourcing: "Senator Obama will close loopholes that allow corporations to avoid paying their taxes and force working Americans to foot the bill, and he will provide incentives for corporations to create jobs at home and invest in the United States," the spokesman said. "He will also invest in education and our infrastructure to ensure that Americans have the skills and tools necessary to compete with anyone anywhere in the world." Patent reform: A campaign spokesman said Obama's overarching goal is to promote innovation and reduce entry barriers in a way fair to all participants in the patent process. Piracy: "Intellectual property is an area of competitive advantage for the U.S.," the spokesman said. "And those products deserve fair treatment abroad." Wiretaps without warrants: "The Obama administration would adhere to FISA rules for the surveillance of any Internet and telephone communications, and would establish strict procedures for the use of any PATRIOT Act powers, especially national security letters," the spokesman said. "If those laws need to be changed to take account of new means of communication and new threats, Senator Obama will work with Congress to make the necessary change, and he will not ignore the law."
	Gov. Bill Richardson, New Mexico Richardson has substantial diplomatic experience and knowledge of immigration issues. He is of Hispanic heritage and lives in a border state. ON THE ISSUES Border fence: "We should give the Border Patrol the benefit of the best surveillance equipment available to our military," Richardson said in a speech on immigration reform at Georgetown University. "And, as suggested by Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a leader on immigration issues, we should implement a system of 'informant visas' and cash rewards for aliens who provide law  enforcement with information on human traffickers and document forgers." Competitiveness and innovation: Supports cooperation with Asia for joint benefit. "Both Asians and non-Asians will make decisions in the coming years that determine whether our future is one of common endeavor or of geo-political tension, whether our economies prosper together or stagnate separately behind protectionist walls," Richardson said. "There will always be rivalry among great powers, and nations always will have, at times, conflicting interests and different values. We cannot eliminate all rivalries and conflicts and differences, but we can choose to be judicious and far-sighted in how we manage them." Databases for background checks: "We should establish a 'fraudulent documents task force' to constantly update law enforcement and border officials on the latest fraudulent documents being marketed for entry into the United States," Richardson said in the same speech. "We need a national, non-duplicable electronic worker identification document to be used exclusively for employment purposes. After the institution of such an ID system, employers will have no excuses. Those who knowingly hire undocumented workers must face serious and certain penalties. Those who hire illegal immigrants are lawbreakers, too, and like illegal immigrants themselves, they must be held to account for breaking the law." E-Voting: "A verifiable paper trail with optical scanners is going to improve turnout, and it's going to get a lot of young voters in the polls," Richardson said at the CNN/YouTube debate. Network neutrality: Supports. Outsourcing: Richardson said at the June 28 presidential debate that outsourcing is a problem. "Most outsourcing jobs are technical. We need to upgrade our science and math standards in our school," he said. "It's education. And I would create 250 science and math academies to deal with that gap." Trade: "What we need is trade agreements, fair trade agreements where we say, no slave labor, no child labor; we're not going to have -- we're going to have environmental protection; we're going to have to deal with wage disparity," Richardson said at the debate.