by Christi Parsons
Hundreds of progressive activists from around the country are gathered at the Washington Hilton this morning, and Democratic presidential candidates are starting to parade through to present their liberal credentials.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson made his argument crystal clear this morning: he says he’s the only Democratic candidate who proposes a complete withdrawal of troops from Iraq by the end of this year.
“I applaud my fellow Democratic candidates for taking on President Bush in the Congress,” Richardson told an audience this morning at the Take Back America conference.”But there is a fundamental difference in this campaign, and that’s how many troops each of us would leave behind. I would leave zero troops. Not a single one.”
At noon, Barack Obama is set to speak his piece. An advance copy of his remarks indicates he’ll remind people that he has his own distinction on the Iraq war.
“I am proud that I stood up in 2002 and urged our leaders not to take us down this dangerous path,” his prepared remarks say. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – this is a war that should’ve never been authorized and never been waged.”