Just a short run down of how some announced and potential 2008 candidates feel about Bush’s troop surge plan.

Anti-surge:

Hillary Clinton: “Based on the President’s speech tonight, I cannot support his proposed escalation of the war in Iraq.”

Chris Dodd: “Two things the president said I agree with: This policy is not working, and it’s now up to the Iraqis,” Dodd said. “Ultimately, the Iraqis have to decide what they want for their future. We can open the door for them, we can create an opportunity . . . but putting more troops in Baghdad is just extending failure.”

Barack Obama: “Fellow Democrat Barack Obama cited another meeting. He says he spoke with Secretary of State Condalezza Rice, and he says he’s concluded that the administration’s strategy appears to be “more of the same.”

Joe Biden: “I listened carefully to the President tonight. Sending more American troops to the epicenter of a vicious civil war is not the answer. Escalation won’t solve the problem – it will compound it.”

Russ Feingold: “Congress must bring an end to what has been one of the greatest foreign policy mistakes in the history of our nation. The President continues to deny the devastating impact that keeping our brave troops in Iraq is having on our national security. The American people have rejected the Administration’s Iraq-centric foreign policy. It is time to bring our troops out of Iraq and refocus on defeating the global terrorist networks that threaten this country.”

Sam Brownback: ““I do not believe that sending more troops to Iraq is the answer,” Brownback said. “Iraq requires a political rather than a military solution.” Brownback made his comments while traveling in Iraq, before Bush’s address to the nation.

Addition:
George Pataki also appears to be opposed to any kind of “surge” in troop numbers.

Pro-surge:

John McCain: “McCain and the other Republicans say the troop increase is needed to secure Baghdad and quell violence and that an American defeat or withdrawal would destabilize the economically key region and embolden terror groups.”

Mitt Romney: Former Massachusetts governor and potential presidential candidate Mitt Romney said in a written statement that he favors President Bush’s plan to add 21,500 new boots-on-the-ground in Iraq. “It is impossible to defeat the insurgency without first providing security for the Iraqi people,” Romney said. “In consultation with generals, military experts, and troops who have served on the ground in Iraq, I believe securing Iraqi civilians requires additional troops.”

Rudy Giuliani: “Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani both said Wednesday that they support the president. But, Giuliani said, “we must not wait for a year or more to measure the success of our strategy.”

I’m sure there are some I’ve missed. Perhaps an update later if I find more.

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