The DemocratsWAR ON IRAQJoseph Biden:  Called his support of the war in 2002 “a mistake.”  He opposed the surge, and calls for a “phased redeployment with decentralization.”  He supports a federal Iraq, with the regions having more power than a central government.Hillary Clinton: Voted in support of the 2003 invasion as a senator. She said that given what she knows now, she would have voted differently. She opposed the “surge” – the strategy of sending more U.S. forces into Baghdad. If elected president, she says she will end the war on Iraq.Chris Dodd: He also supported the war, but is now opposed to it.  He argued that the Congressional mandate on the war did not give the president the authority to increase the number of troops.  He calls for a phased redeployment or a piecemeal exit from Iraq that involves training Iraqi forces to protect the country’s “territorial integrity.”John Edwards: The former senator voted for the war.  He said he now doubts that vote and would vote differently.  Calling for a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq in roughly a year, he said he would end the war as president. He is willing to talk with countries impacted by the Iraq crisis, including Syria and Iran.Mike Gravel: He opposed the war from the outset and said that anyone who did not is unqualified to be President.  He supports an immediate withdrawal from Iraq.Dennis Kucinich: Voted no to the war as a Representative, calling it “against the spirit of the country.”  He argues the war should be de-funded immediately and the troops brought home.  He considers those in Congress who claim to be against the war but vote to finance it inconsistent.Barack Obama: In opposition to the war in Iraq from the beginning, he said there is “no military solution.”  He stood against the surge and called for a basic dismantling of the current policy. Early in 2007, he proposed a plan for a phased withdrawal, saying benchmarks must be set and a political solution reached.Bill Richardson:  Grew to oppose the war, as well as the “surge.” Supported a withdrawal by the end of 2007.IMMIGRATIONJoseph Biden: Supported both comprehensive immigration reform and enhanced border security, including the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as employer penalties.Hillary Clinton: She favors comprehensive immigration reform, though believes in tightening border security, penalizing employers who hire undocumented workers and a system to bring the roughly 12m undocumented immigrants “out of the shadows.” She frames immigration in terms if its security implications, post 9/11.Chris Dodd: Voted to support comprehensive immigration reform, specifically a guest worker program and border security issues.  He also supported the building of 700 miles of new fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.John Edwards: He seeks to marry tougher border control with America’s legacy as a nation of immigrants. He called the U.S.-Mexico border “a mess,” saying the U.S. should spend more to police it. He proposes a path to earned U.S. citizenship, involving a fine and English language attainment.Mike Gravel: Opposed the U.S.-Mexico fence and the militarization of the border. He called for a pathway to citizenship.Dennis Kucinich: Voted against the U.S.-Mexico fence and the militarization of the border (giving the Department of Defense control over border security). He called for a “clear road map to legal status in the United States” for the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the country.Barack Obama: Has also criticized the U.S.-Mexico border and discussed the plight of the undocumented immigrants who die or get  injured crossing the desert. He also seeks greater penalties for employers hiring undocumented workers. He argues that plans to give immigrants without legal status a path to citizenship are not an amnesty. They should have to pay a fine and learn English in order to earn citizenship.Bill Richardson:  Calls for securing the border without building a fence. As governor of New Mexico, he granted drivers licenses without regard to legal status.  Took measures to help the National Guard patrol the borders.Other issuesSUPPORT FOR ISRAELA panel assembled by Ha’aretz, a leading Israeli newspaper, periodically ranks the candidates according to how friendly they are towards Israel.  On a ten point scale, Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson were the most pro-Israel with scores of 7.6 and 6.25, respectively.  John Edwards, by contrast, scored a 5.87.  Both Joseph Biden and Chris Dodd came towards the bottom with a 5.6.  Barack Obama was rated the least pro-Israel of the candidates, with a score of a 5.  IRANAccording to the New York Times, “most of the candidates from both parties have not ruled out the use of military force.”  The Democrats are naturally less hawkish.  Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, however, stands out on this issue because of her support for a Senate measure supporting the new sanctions against Iran.  This was in contrast to the positions of the other Democratic presidential candidates.Representative Kucinich and Mike Gravel are the most in favor of unconditional direct talks and the least supportive of sanctions.CLIMATE CHANGEMost of the Democratic candidates argue “the United States should lead the global effort to curb greenhouse emissions and advocate federally mandated emission laws.”