In an election year, voting for a presidential candidate can be a lot like buying a home. 

Both require a fair amount of analysis but -- in the end -- the decision is still highly emotional.

Using Bankrate.com's side-by-side candidate comparisons, some of that emotion could be replaced by fact. 

In a gridded format, candidates are pitted head-to-head the following topics:

• Education
• Jobs
• Health Care
• Social Security
• Taxes

The charts can help Americans get a better feel for where the candidates stand with respect to "pocketbook issues" that impact them personally in their businesses, their lives, and in their homes.

Opinions on the issues are current as of January 29, 2008.  As with everything in politics, though, the candidate positions are subject to change.