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Barack Obama, Democratic U.S. Senator from Illinois, is leading right now in the candidate race for the Democratic Party. His campaign has emphasized ending the Iraq War, increasing energy independence, and providing universal health care as his top three priorities.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democratic U.S. Senator from New York, has steadily been losing support to her rival, Senator Obama. Her campaign also centers on ending the Iraq war, health care, and energy.

There aren’t any big differences between their campaign platforms and when they debate specific issues, the differences are small. Their differences lie in how each candidate shows his or her leadership qualities.

The first difference is that Sen. Obama puts into words an inspiring and positive vision for leading the United States. When he speaks his visions are clear. He plans to fight the battles that directly threaten the United States, work together with other world leaders to battle terrorism, and balance government treatment to the middle class so they are even with their wealthy counterparts. And if you doubt his public speaking ability is compelling, all you need to do is look at the awe-struck faces of the audience.

Secondly, when Sen. Obama answers questions he keeps his focus on what is important — the question. He doesn’t get distracted by what he calls the “politics of silliness,” by getting sidetracked by petty personality differences between himself and others.

Senator Obama’s final difference is the style he uses to lead. He won’t do as previous leaders have done and tell us to go back to our lives and he’ll take care of us. He states during his public appearances that he can’t make the needed changes alone. He asks that we, the people, help him lead our country into a new era and work with him to change our government, our society, and our world.