Those reductions will not happen, however, if Democrats take control of Congress, Bishop said. They will raise taxes — or at least suspend the current tax cuts — to bring in more money, which will not force the federal government to reduce their spending, but encourage spending, Bishop said.

Actually, a Congress with Democrats in the majority would help reduce the deficit because they would no longer budget using "fantasy math," Olsen said. They would also work to immediately fix the problems caused by the "reckless" spending of Republicans.

Solving the immigration problem needs to be done for security reasons, and it needs to address not only the illegal-entry issues but employment challenges, both candidates agree.

Neither Bishop nor Olsen thinks that America should leave Iraq until the job is done. Olsen would like a more aggressive attempt to put the Iraqis in charge of their country, while Bishop would prefer that the decisions about the war be made by the generals, not the politicians.

E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com