We've had some interesting (and exciting) news with regards to the caucuses for the McCain team! With the results coming in from New Hampshire, we came in a strong lead, giving us a little boost here in Nevada, which is exactly what we needed when everyone has been working 10-12 hour days.

With a week left till the caucus, we have been out in full force. There have been events ranging from rallies, phone rooms, and volunteers walking around neighborhoods throughout the state. It has been fascinating seeing how the campaign is flowing together, and it's all because of the enthusiastic and excited volunteers putting forth their strong efforts statewide.

But back to the issues...after reviewing McCain's immigration platform, I dived into the economy. This is one of the most important issues for me, as this problem affects us all, no matter how young. With the country running a 9 trillion dollar deficit, something needs to be done.

John McCain believes in exercising fiscal discipline rather then the flippant spending of American citizens’ tax money. He promises to spend responsibly rather than frivolously. Excessive spending and borrowing must stop.

As with any budget, it is good to have a plan, something that you can follow closely. McCain wants this plan to be open to the public, letting us know exactly what our Government is doing with our money. With this kind of transparency we can feel comfortable with our Governmental programs.

This brings me to his next platform: Governmental programs including Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. McCain believes in bipartisan participation and cooperation in tackling these grave issues.  There is no easy answer, but there is a good answer, and that can be found through cooperation.

That was my favorite part, the acknowledgement that one party cannot do it on their own. We need each others help to better America. Before we can address any problem in our society, we must work together. United we stand, right?

7 days to go until Nevada's Caucus!

It's been a little hectic up here in Reno, but completely worth it. I started working on John McCain's campaign in early December, and while things have been a little insane, it's to be expected at such an important time. Originally, I didn't know too much about John McCain. I didn't know what he wanted to do as President, how he was going to make a difference, and why he even deserved my vote. So I did my homework and brushed up on some of his policy ideas.

I started with Illegal Immigration, as it is a hot button issue for this year's elections. As I began the dive into his political platform, it started out very similar to most politicians: he wants to secure the border. Here's the difference though, John McCain has a plan. It starts with recognizing the need to build strong relationships with leaders in Latin American and Mexico who support our goals of democracy and freedom. By working together, instead of against each other, our goals become a reality.

He supports the temporary worker program, helping those who need it become initiated to American life, but he doesn't want this to overshadow the efforts of maintaining a healthy and productive relationship with Mexico and its leaders.  So, once I realized that I didn't know what the temporary worker program was, I did a little more research to understand the logistics.

This program offers temporary legal status to illegal immigrants to fill jobs that are vacant. This lasts for three years, and is renewable so long as the person fulfills the requirements of the program (not breaking the law, maintaining a job, etc.) The employers also have responsibilities. First, they must make the effort to extend offers to American workers. Second, they must not hire undocumented individuals to positions that need filling. Third, they must keep track of the individuals they do hire, so we may follow their progress, as well as enforce current immigration laws.

To apply for this program there is a one-time fee, and individuals can travel back and forth from their home country to America any time without having to worry about getting back into the country. This program does not stop immigrants from applying for citizenship; rather it encourages and supports the individuals who wish to become an American citizen, giving them the opportunity to earn an income while walking along the pathway to American Citizenship.

So there you have it, John McCain's plans for border security.