Iraq War: The Candidates Positions

Barack Obama: Consistently opposed the war.
That’s what I’m opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics....I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars. ~ Speech in Chicago, October 26, 2002 (source)

Hillary Clinton: Supported the war but not as executed.
If we were to attack Iraq now, alone or with few allies, it would set a precedent that could come back to haunt us....for all its appeal, a unilateral attack, while it cannot be ruled out, on the present facts is not a good option....If we get the [UN] resolution [President Bush seeks ] and Saddam does not comply, then we can attack him with far more support and legitimacy than we would have otherwise....This is a very difficult vote. This is probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make...but I cast it with conviction....I want this President, or any future President, to be in the strongest possible position to lead our country in the United Nations or in war....A vote for it is not a vote to rush to war; it is a vote that puts awesome responsibility in the hands of our President and we say to him - use these powers wisely and as a last resort. ~ Speech in the US Senate on the vote to authorize the use of force in Iraq, October 10, 2002 (source)

when Chuck Hagel, who helped to draft the resolution said, 'It was not a vote for war,' What I was told directly by the White House in response to my question, 'If you are given this authority, will you put the inspectors in and permit them to finish their job,' I was told that's exactly what we intended to do. ~ defense by Clinton of this vote on Meet the Press, January 13, 2008 (source)

John McCain: Supports the war but surprised it wasn't easy.
But the point is that, one, we will win this conflict. We will win it easily. That does not mean we won't experience the tragedy of the loss of some American lives. ~ CNN interview, January 22, 2003 (source)

But it won't be long. It will be a fairly short period of time, but this happens in wars. I'm confident that once they are confident the area is no longer a threat to the Marines and to our army troops that they'll start imposing discipline. In the meantime, we'll have a short period of chaos. ~ ABC Good Morning America, April 8, 2003 (source)

When asked, in a townhall meeting in Derry, NH, about US troops staying in Iraq for 50 years McCain said, "Make it a hundred...it would be fine with me." (source)

Mike Huckabee: Loves the war.
Was "thrilled" by the war in March, 2003 (source). In April, 2007, said the United States should do whatever it takes to win (source).