Evan Bayh, Democrat

Marvin Scott, Republican

Al Barger, Libertarian

Briefly, why do you want be to a U.S. senator from Indiana?

Good jobs with good wages, tax cuts for families and small business, affordable health care, quality schools -- these are the Hoosier priorities I fight for every day in Washington. As senator, I've assisted in creating and protecting thousands of jobs in manufacturing, life sciences and high-tech, secured additional funding for our schools and brought back millions of dollars for child health insurance. I've supported tax cuts for middle-class families and small businesses, fought hard for tougher trade enforcement to stop cheating foreign companies that hurt Hoosier workers and businesses, and led the way to bring greater accountability in our schools and make college more affordable.

My opponent is a nice guy, but I do not believe his votes reflect our great state. Indiana deserves a senator who will work with President Bush and Sen. Richard Lugar to pass tax cuts, cut health care costs and bring jobs back to Indiana. Hoosiers deserve two senators who are working together, not voting against each.

I want to restrain the federal government to only the functions specifically authorized to it by the U.S. Constitution, which means mostly just national defense and a few specific lesser-designated functions, such as copyright law and printing money.

Was the U.S. justified in going to war with Iraq?

The U.S. did a good thing removing Saddam Hussein from power and freeing 26 million Iraqis from his tyranny. Our effort to promote freedom and democracy as an antidote to terror is noble and idealistic. As my colleague Dick Lugar has pointed out, however, the plan for achieving these ends was inadequate and its implementation by civilian policymakers inept.

Yes. As the father of a former U.S. Navy pilot, I take the deployment of our soldiers very personally. My No. 1 concern is protecting our country. Getting rid of Saddam Hussein is just part of securing our great land.

I still say yes, for we are in fact under continuing attack at home. We must aggressively take the fight to our enemies. We're far better off drawing the bad guys to fight our soldiers in Iraq or Iran rather than in New York or Indianapolis.

Do you support the reimportation of prescription drugs from other countries? Why or why not?

While drug reimportation is not my first preference, I support providing Hoosiers with easy access to affordable, effective, safe drugs. I will continue to evaluate all proposals, including drug reimportation, based on those principles.

Reimportation, while yielding lower drug prices in the short run, could have significant negative impacts on innovation and on the regional economies in which the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries play an important role. The development process, in most instances ultimately unfruitful, is extremely costly. Drug price controls and reimportation schemes would shrink the pipeline for new prescription drugs by reducing the ability of companies to recover their investment in research and development.

I say yes on general principles and as a pro-consumer measure. However, I'm still somewhat concerned about what effects this might have on the drug companies and their ability and motivation to continue critical research and development for new drugs.

Should American workers be allowed to invest a portion of their Social Security contributions in individual accounts? Why?

Social Security was established to keep seniors who worked hard all their lives from living in abject poverty. Any reform must preserve this safety net. If we can generate a higher rate of return for workers' retirements while still maintaining this guarantee, we should consider it.

These personal accounts would give workers ownership, control, and the opportunity to use their Social Security payroll taxes to build a nest egg for retirement that can be passed on to their loved ones. These accounts would not change the benefits for current retirees and near-retirees.

Yes, but I'd go further. The Social Security tax should be abolished, and you should get all of your money put in your own accounts that you control. There's no constitutional authority for Social Security, and the federal government has proven itself utterly irresponsible with Social Security money. Under this system, 15 percent of your income is confiscated and squandered. There is no trust fund, no "lock box." If any private company treated retirement accounts this way, the whole board of directors would be in prison for securities fraud.

How should the federal government reduce the budget deficit?

Reducing the deficit must be a priority. Restraining spending is the place to start. Promoting economic growth will also help.

I am pleased with the direction President Bush is moving us with regard to creating a stronger economy, more jobs and a lower deficit. Putting Hoosiers to work will provide government the tax revenue to lower the budget deficit. I am fully supportive of a balanced budget amendment that requires controlling spending. We cannot forget that restraining spending must continue to be part of the equation.

Eliminating all the programs and departments that are not specifically authorized by the U.S. Constitution would reduce federal spending by at least two-thirds. For starters, let's eliminate the federal Department of Education. Also eliminate all farm subsidies and other corporate welfare.

Which political leader of the past or present would you most like to emulate?

Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln are two of my heroes.

Abraham Lincoln. His quest to free the slaves is the most important turning point for my ancestors. Lincoln looked beyond race to better our country, and we have benefited ever since.

Barry Goldwater. He fought for a vigorous national defense and a minimal amount of government interference in our lives. He was known as a staunch fiscal conservative with a strong respect for separation of powers. Critically, he was also very socially tolerant.

Why should voters go to the polls on Nov. 2?

Our state and nation face profound economic, fiscal and national security challenges. Those we elect on Nov. 2 will be responsible for meeting them. Don't let others decide for you. Take part in shaping your own destiny.

Voting is the one way we have of controlling our democracy. Our brave men and women are fighting so we can maintain a free society, and I believe it is our duty to practice the right to vote. With our vote we decide if our current leadership has made a positive impact or not, and this November is probably the most important election since the early 1980s.

People should go to the polls because they care about the civic affairs of our nation, have made some effort to study the candidates and issues, and want to give their best-informed judgment. If you don't know anything about the candidates, you'd be better off to leave it alone. Take your vote seriously. An uninformed vote is far worse than no vote.