We never had a surplus! We as a country have been in debt for many many years. Pres Clinton did however have a balanced budget for the most part of his terms in office and paid down the deficit a good bit. He also had set us on a path that if we would have stayed on would have paid off the deficit by either 2011 or 12, can't remember but just around the corner. Which was then going to fund the endangered social security and medicare funds. "The tax man may cometh" but you also "get what you pay for". I'm guessing the person who finds middle ground and is more fiscally responsible will get my vote. Unfortunately there doesnt seem to be a lot of confidence on one side of the aisle which throws up huge red flags for me.