I am looking for an extensive list of political 'issues' any given
national politician in the United States would confront in his/her run
for office.  All it has to be is a list (e.g., 1. Abortion 2. Gun
Control, etc.).  Obviously the more detailed the list the better. It
would be helpful, but not necessary, if the list also had the variable
positions someone might take on each issue (e.g., 1. Abortion a.
pro-life or b. pro-choice, etc.).  Please let me know if you have any
questions.

Hi! Thanks for the question.

I will list here the issues any US national politician should be
familiar with.  Clear and precise presentation of information as
regards to the pros and cons of such issues are mentioned as well in
some articles.

Education:

School Choice
http://www.nationalissues.com/education/school_choice/index.html

Vouchers
http://www.nationalissues.com/education/school_choice/vouchers.html 

Charter Schools
http://www.nationalissues.com/education/school_choice/charter_schools.html

Teacher Issues
http://www.nationalissues.com/education/teacher_issues/index.html 

Teacher’s Pay Per Performance
http://www.nationalissues.com/education/teacher_issues/pay_for_performance.html

Teacher’s Tenure
http://www.nationalissues.com/education/teacher_issues/tenure.html 

-------------------------
Gun Control
http://www.nationalissues.com/gun_control/index.html

------------------------
Social Security
http://www.nationalissues.com/social_security/index.html 

------------------------
Taxes
http://www.nationalissues.com/taxes/index.html 

------------------------
Foreign Policy

Military Obligations
http://www.nationalissues.com/foreign_policy/role_in_21st_century.html

China - Trade/Relations with East Asia/Japan
http://www.nationalissues.com/foreign_policy/china.html 

Russia
http://www.nationalissues.com/foreign_policy/russia.html 

Middle East
http://www.nationalissues.com/foreign_policy/middle_east.html 

India and Pakistan
http://www.nationalissues.com/foreign_policy/india_and_pakistan.html 

WTO
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/pros_cons/wto/wto.html 

---------------------
Defense
http://www.nationalissues.com/defense/index.html 

Military Readiness
http://www.nationalissues.com/defense/military_readiness.html 

Missile Defense
http://www.nationalissues.com/defense/missile_defense.html 

------------------
Abortion
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/pros_cons/abortion/abortion.html 

-----------------
Affirmative Action
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/pros_cons/affaction/affaction.html 

-----------------
Campaign Finance Reform
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/pros_cons/softmoney/softmoney.html 

--------------------
Death Penalty
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/pros_cons/deathpenalty/deathpenalty.html

-------------------
Term Limits
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/pros_cons/termlimits/termlimits.html

--------------------
Physician Assisted Suicide
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/pros_cons/suicide/suicide.html 

------------------
Legalization of Marijuana
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/pros_cons/pot/pot.html 

-------------------
Gay Marriages
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/pros_cons/gaymarriage/gaymarriage.html

-------------------
Immigration Issues

Illegal Immigration
http://www.cis.org/topics/illegalimmigration.html 

Terrorism & National Security
http://www.cis.org/topics/terrorism.html 

Wages and Poverty
http://www.cis.org/topics/wagesandpoverty.html 

Assimilation & Citizenship
http://www.cis.org/topics/assimilation.html 

Population & Environment
http://www.cis.org/topics/populationenvironment.html 

Black Americans
http://www.cis.org/topics/blackamericans.html 

Government & Politics
http://www.cis.org/topics/governmentpolitics.html 

Costs
http://www.cis.org/topics/costs.html 

Refugees & Asylum
http://www.cis.org/topics/refugeesasylees.html 

Guestworkers
http://www.cis.org/topics/guestworkers.html 
http://migration.ucdavis.edu/mn/archive_mn/jul_1995-03mn.html

----------------------
Labor Unions
http://wlb.monster.com/articles/unions/ 

Search terms used:  
US politics “national issues”  
  
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
                      
Thanks for visiting us.                       
                      
Regards,                       
Easterangel-ga                       
Google Answers Researcher

Thank you very much.  This is helpful.