What our other readers are saying:
Not just because Mitt's Mormon
If you check out my city and state, it will come as no surprise to anyone that I would vote for Mitt Romney. But hold on – it's not just because he is a Latter-day Saint (or Mormon). As a volunteer for the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics, I witnessed first hand what an honest, committed person could do to turn things around – without any pay! Mitt (and Steve Young) made us believe in ourselves, our city, and in America. He can do it again in 2008!
Ruby L. Cheesman, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Faith is important, but the issues matter most
Although my voting decision will be influenced by my religious faith, gender, race, or religion of the candidates are not influential factors. My greatest concerns are the war in Iraq, economic injustice through tax breaks for the wealthy, global warming, and raising the standard of living for people in poverty through education and adequate health care. Therefore, I will base my voting on those issues.
Rich Cooper, Dingmans Ferry, Penn., USA
Let's see some honest comments here
Race, gender and religion will always be the most important issue with at least 90 percent of the voting American public as it always has been. Preferably they would like to see a male, white, Christian media star as their president. Any other qualities are unimportant to American voters as they can be easily led into anything with the media's approval. Voters have very little concept of what their politicians will do once elected other than the basic "I'm against abortion, gay marriage or Internet porn" – all other issues are back-burner stuff and rarely have anything to do with voter preferences.
Pal Holdings, Victoria, B.C., Canada
Makes no difference
Race, religion, and gender won't make any difference to me. Obama and Clinton represent liberal values. Romney represents conservative values. I will continue to vote for candidates who represent my values regardless of their race, gender, and religion.
Marcia Ogden, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Issues are most important
As a long time registered Republican who opposes almost everything our party has done these past six years, I will vote for that candidate (of either party) who is most convincing that he/she will change our nation's direction both in terms of war and domestic issues: No more Katrina wavering, withdraw troops while helping to revitalize Iraq, and go after the war profiteers (including most oil companies).
Charles Cummiskey, Los Angeles, Calif., USA
Aloha Obama
Barack Obama intrigues me. Some worry about his lack of experience. But sadly I can't say our current administration, in spite of its collective years of experience, has made wise decisions. Has Barack been largely honest during the few years he has served this country? That is an important question, one I'm sure will be answered in coming months. I would have to be honest and say I find his race appealing; he grew up in Hawaii as did I. Hawaii was and still is a melting pot; I was one of very few caucasians in my high school. It was no big deal. We all got along great, and I trust those values were instilled in Barack; his warm "Aloha spirit" is real.
Sarah Nelson, N. Kingstown, R.I., USA
Female president a thrill, but weigh the candidates
To be truly honest, I must admit the thrill of a woman president. As a young woman of the 60s I fought for women's rights and against the glass ceiling. But as a realist, I will try to view all the candidates and pick the one I believe has the skills to get the US back on track with the rest of the world.
De Dean, Athens, Ga., USA
Religion comes first
A candidate's gender or race would never affect whether I would vote for him or her. As much as I would like to see a black or female president, my favorite candidate for the Democratic nomination is John Edwards. I support him because I feel he has the strongest and most sensible position on the Iraq War. As for Mitt Romney, I would probably never vote for a Mormon. I recognize that most candidates belong to some sort of organized religion, but as a liberal, I would never vote for anyone as conservative on social issues as Romney, and as an atheist, I would never vote for anyone who I felt would put his or her religious faith above the best interests of the country.
Eric Berg, Somerset, N.J., USA
Nothing new
While I think it is very positive that we finally have both black and female candidates, it is quite clear that Obama and Clinton are very much in the tradition of our recent white male presidents: there is nothing new about them except their womanhood and blackness. For this reason, they should be passed over as so much garbage thrust in our faces by the media.
Clark Williams, Chattanooga, Tenn., USA
A woman as president
I would like to say that none of these would be a factor... but that is not true for me. I am intrigued with the idea of a woman president. I don't believe Mrs. Clinton would be any different then any other politician and I haven't a clue as to how a gender would effect public policy but it would be a change. We all have grown accustomed to business as usual, at the very least she could reinvigorate my hope for something new and different.
Vincent Kelly, Denver, Colo., USA
I truly believe Mr. Romney's first loyalty would be to the Mormon Church, not to the US Constitution.
Jim Reddoch, Portland, Tex., USA
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Religion, morality and politics
The only true factor for any of us should be religion. Not what religion, but is the candidate moral and committed, qualities that if not evident in a person's religious convictions should also not be expected in politics. I would vote for a non-Caucasian women any day assuming she lived a moral life and was committed to a religion that believed ones political office to be something less than an ultimate attainment.
Jacob Robinson, Rio Rancho, New Mexico, USA
Relate to diversity
Any political platform largely based on religion, gender, or race is a negative. Especially religion. Wars are often about people perceiving themselves and others as "different." We could really benefit by seeing the similarities in each other. Concentrating on religion, gender, or race can actually be divisive. We need to relate to the diversity in the rest of the world and religion etc. have no place in that. Platforms based on differences only show the extent to which we can still retain bigotry.
James Turner, Calif, USA
A leader, not a politician
Playing to these factors will resonate with some voters and will have a negative affect with others. I want to see a leader in the White House as opposed to a politician and so any effort on the part of these candidates to exploit their religion, gender or race will detract from their character from my perspective.
J. Mauk, Olney, Md., USA
Leadership qualities matter
With the examples provided--Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, or Barack Obama--of presidential candidates representing a first on religion, gender, or race, I have no opinion on how these factors will affect their presidential prospects, as I think all Americans need to think long and hard about the leadership qualities each candidate possesses and about where they think American needs to go in the future, and not allow their prejudices or biases about religion, gender or race affect that reflection.
Claire Prideaux, Harrisonburg, Va., USA
Refreshing mixture of candidates
I must say that the mixture of different candidates is refreshing. It shows the American people are more open and progressive minded. This being said, race gender or religion should have absolutely nothing to do with a persons decision on who to vote for. Lets get down to the facts please. What do the candidates stand for? How are they going to improve America on all levels? Finally, what are they going to do to improve our foreign policy? This is what is important not the fact that they are black or white, male female or what ever religion.
Matthew Fisher, Barcelona, Catalunia, Spain
Key considerations
My vote will be contingent on 3 areas.
First is who I believe will bring the United States away from the divisiveness it has been experiencing over the course of the last 8 years and back into a direction of unity.
Second is someone that has not been totally corrupted by the established political system.
Third is someone that will enact the true will of the American people and not seek out their own personal gains, or gains for their closest associates at the expense of the country.
In my view that person is Barack Obama.
Joshua Mittvick, Mesa, Ariz., USA
