In 2004, his vote giving authority to President Bush to use force in Iraq nearly paralyzed Sen. John Kerry on what should have been the biggest issue in the campaign.

Sen. Ted Kennedy called his vote against the war "the best vote I have ever cast."

Russ Fiengold is the only candidate (so far) among the leading contenders who voted against the war. But Al Gore was loud and clear in his opposition to it.

Biden, Kerry and others have distanced themselved from their own votes.

Sen. Clinton has not. In fact she has not called the war a mistake and is against pulling out now. Neither has Joe Lieberman in Connecticut and Maria Cantwell in Washington, both of whom are facing challenges from anti-war activists within the Democratic Party.

How important is this issue to Democrats? How important is early opposition? Is the position of the "recanters" like Biden acceptable? How important is this issue going to be in the upcoming midterm elections and then how important is it going to be in 2008?


The Realist Position

The Get-Out-Now Position