Stop.

Wildfires scorch the West, floods pound the Heartland and tropical storms slam the Gulf Coast. Elsewhere, the United States leads wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There’s chaos in Pakistan. Russian troops occupy tiny Georgia. Iran test-fires missiles, while North Korea grudgingly begins nuclear disarmament. Genocide consumes Darfur. Poverty and disease blanket Africa. Israelis and Palestinians struggle still. A failed White House bid against George W. Bush in 2000 put this man — with his white hair, rapid-fire pace and quick wit — on the national political scene. Tall, trim and easygoing, Obama rocketed onto the national stage as a U.S. Senate candidate who gave a stirring keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Both McCain and Obama are senators, fathers and husbands. Both talk of faith, family and freedom, patriotism, purpose and pride.

McCain is the elder, Obama the youth. McCain is white, Obama black. McCain is a political veteran, Obama still a virtual rookie.

McCain has largely a conservative Senate voting record, while Obama’s is mostly liberal — and their proposals for the future essentially adhere to those ideologies.

On war and peace, McCain is a hawk, Obama a dove. On economics, McCain is a free-market advocate, Obama a “fair-market” proponent. On cultural issues, McCain opposes abortion rights, while Obama supports them.