Cross post from TeamDCDemocracy:

With the Presidential primary fast approaching, does anyone know if there are distinctions among the Presidential candidates on DC rights? I have not seen any comparative charts or information.

Former President Clinton had the opportunity to make DC a state--but chose not to do it. That fact pushes me more into the Obama camp unless I hear that Hillary would be more focused than her husband was.

Has anyone asked the candidates how far they would go to bring EQUAL rights to the District of Columbia?

* Do they support budgetary, legislative, and judicial autonomy for DC so that DC has its own Attorney General and its own locally appointed judges (not ones appointed by the President, like now)?

* What are their positions on the structural imbalance associated with the federal presence?

* Do they support the current legislation for a House vote only?

* Do they support Delegate Norton's "pre-Republican rule" legislation for equal voting rights in the Senate and House?

* Would they support an Equal Constitutional Rights Amendment for DC?

* Would they support full statehood for the District if that was a possibility under their Administration, or would they take a pass like Bill Clinton did?

Further, are there ANY Republican candidates that support voting rights for DC--even a single vote in the House?

Mark David Richards