CLOSE-UP: MITT ROMNEY CLOSE-UP: MITT ROMNEY In-depth: Romney news, video, photos, timeline, more ... Mitt Romney on the campaign issues: Iraq | Immigration | Health care | Education | Abortion | Gay civil rights Read about each of Romney's 2008 wins: Wyoming | Michigan | Utah | North Dakota | Minnesota | Massachusetts | Alaska | Colorado | Maine | Nevada CAMPAIGN ISSUES: 2008 CAMPAIGN ISSUES: 2008 Click on the titles to learn more about where the presidential candidates stand on the issues:



WAR IN IRAQ

The war in Iraq is the dominant issue in the 2008 race for the White House. The early primary votes will be cast as the conflict completes its fifth year. The next president will be the first to take the oath of office during an ongoing war since Richard Nixon in 1969.



IMMIGRATION

Immigration is a highly divisive issue, as concerns about terrorism amplify the debate about border security. Congress has failed to enact immigration legislation because of differences between supporters of tougher enforcement to limit illegal entry into the country and advocates of amnesty for illegal immigrants.



HEALTH CARE

Polls indicate that health care is one of the most important issues to voters heading into the 2008 presidential elections. The rising cost of health insurance and the growing number of uninsured give the issue added urgency. Several candidates have called for universal health care; others have said these plans amount to socialized medicine.



EDUCATION

White House hopefuls are divided on the federal government's role in education as Congress considers changes to President Bush's signature schools law, the No Child Left Behind Act, and how to make college affordable.



ABORTION

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in the landmark case Roe v. Wade and the ruling has been the subject of heated political debate ever since. Presidential candidates over the years have weighed in on a variety of abortion-related topics.



GAY CIVIL RIGHTS

The issue of civil rights for gay men and lesbians -- including the definition of marriage, service in the military and protection against hate crimes -- has long divided the two major political parties. It's not as simple as saying Democrats are for them, and Republicans are against them. AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)  Mitt Romney won the presidential preference voting contest by Maine Republicans in the party's municipal caucuses, which were heavily attended across the state. Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, had a little over half of the vote with about two-thirds of the towns holding caucuses reporting Saturday. John McCain worked to keep his vote above 20%, trailed by Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee. AFTER MAINE: Romney looks ahead "This is a people's victory," Romney said. "And an indication that conservative change is something the American people want to see," he said, calling the Maine results a "harbinger" of Tuesday's results and said, "You will see a growing movement to get behind my candidacy." The non-binding votes, the first step toward electing 18 Maine delegates to the Republican National Convention, took place in schools, fire stations and town halls across the state. Despite a sleet storm the night before that left much of the state coated with slush and ice Saturday morning, cars jammed the parking lot outside an Augusta elementary school where Kennebec County municipalities were caucusing. Signs promoting the candidates were jabbed in snowbanks, and inside the school gym speeches were given on behalf of candidates as around 300 party members listened and occasionally broke into cheers. Kim Pettengill, who has been a party activist for more than three decades, said Saturday's was the largest Kennebec County caucus turnout since 1980, the year Ronald Reagan won his first Republican nomination for president. Party Executive Director Julie O'Brien said other counties reported similarly heavy turnouts. Republican caucuses were being held in about 410 Maine municipalities, most on Saturday. A few dozen towns, especially in northern Maine's Aroostook County, held caucuses Friday, and a few more were set for Sunday and later this month. The Maine Democrats hold their presidential preference votes at municipal caucuses on Feb. 10. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.