2004 Democratic Presidential Biographies

The following are brief biographies of the 2004 Democratic presidential candidates. These biographies highlight candidates’ social welfare policy proposals on the following10 issue areas of importance to social workers:

• Mental Health
• Health Care
• Education
• Social Security
• Medicare
• Reproductive Rights
• GLBT Rights
• Affirmative Action
• Children
• Economy/taxes

In addition, they contain information about the candidates’ personal and professional backgrounds. Policy proposals are based on what candidates say they will do if elected president, not on what they may have done in the past as elected officials. Some candidates do not have policy proposals for all of the issue areas. Most of the information gathered for these biographies was taken from the candidates’ official Web sites. The information we provide here is very limited; we encourage you to visit each of the candidates’ Web sites for additional information.

Because he is not facing any Republican primary opponents, we have not provided information on President Bush.