A "Great Leader" on Global Warming

Barack Obama
The Plan: Obama would enact a $150 billion, 10-year plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 80% and invest in renewable and alternative energy technology, including biofuels and clean coal.
How He'd Pay for It: An auction of carbon credits from a cap-and-trade greenhouse gas pollution regulation.
What Sets Him Apart: Creation of an independent, private Clean Technologies Deployment Venture Capital Fund, funded with $10 billion for five years, to invest in technology development.

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"We will make the United States the great leader and not the great roadblock in the fateful fight against global warming."

Those were the words Sen. Edward Kennedy used to endorse Sen. Barack Obama's candidacy for U.S. president Monday. Among many important issues – the economy, health care and the Iraq war among them – Kennedy singled out global warming as one of the major issues the United States is facing.

The highly anticipated endorsement centered around Kennedy's view that Obama has the leadership qualities – embodied by an impressive ability to energize young people – necessary to confront these problems.

"It was the young who led the first Earth Day and issued a clarion call to protect the environment; the young who enlisted in the cause of civil rights and equality for women; the young who joined the Peace Corps and showed the world the hopeful face of America," Kennedy said.

Global warming has not, to date, been a central part of the campaign. But once Democrats and Republicans settle on their chosen candidates, it is likely to rise in prominence. While Democrats all have detailed climate policies, the only Republican with a detailed policy is Sen. John McCain. The contrast between parties is greater than the contrast among candidates in either party, with the exception of McCain, whose leadership on the issue sets him apart from his competitors.

The ability to execute those policies is what won Obama Kennedy's endorsement.

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