Here’s an article which admits that, despite the apparent contest between Hillary and Barack Obama, there really isn’t much difference between the two policy-wise.

Sure, Obama can say he’s always been against the Iraq war, but he wasn’t in office to cast a vote (October 2002), so it’s not really correct to portray him as some sort of antiwar candidate. Besides, Obama joined with Hillary in voting against Sen. Russ Feingold’s measure to withdraw most U.S. troops by July 1, 2007.

Both candidates support abortion on-demand unequivocally. Obama has received 100% ratings from Planned Parenthood and NARAL, and 0% from National Right to Life. Both candidates favor strict gun control, with Obama receiving an “F” from the NRA and voting with Illinois Citizens for Handgun Control 100% of the time when he was a state senator. And according to The National Journal’s latest ideological scores, Obama voted more liberally than 83%, 77% and 76% of his Senate colleagues on fiscal, social and foreign policy issues, respectively; Hillary was more liberal on the same issues 83%, 80% and 66% of the time. Long story short – they’re both very liberal.

The story reminds us that “both Obama and Clinton voted against confirming Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito,” and “[e]ach voted against an amendment to this year’s Senate immigration bill that would have denied legal status to those who had entered the United States illegally.”

Even the way they win their elections is pretty similar. Obama’s initial opponent, Jack Ryan – who by all accounts would have been a formidable candidate - was forced to leave the race due to a marital scandal, leaving conservative Alan Keyes to get slaughtered. Meanwhile, Hillary was supposed to face Rudy Giuliani, who of course left late in the game because of his own scandals and health issues, paving the way for Hillary to win in 2000; this time around she had the pleasure of running against a right-winger in John Spencer. Memo to the GOP: bomb throwing conservatives do NOT run very well in liberal states like Illinois and New York!

Let’s face it, the only differences between the two have to do with charisma, skin pigmentation and sex. Will it be enough for Obama to be black, talk a good game, and be a man? Or will Hillary win because she’s perceived as being more substance than style (besides, she has Bill to feel the voters pain), she’s white (as is about 70% of the electorate), and a woman (just over a majority of registered voters)? Should be a fun next few months.