Liberal Powerhouse Puts Dems on Iraq Hot Seat

March 28, 2007— -- MoveOn.org, a progressive advocacy group that wants the United States out of Iraq by the end of 2007, announced Wednesday that the top three Democratic presidential contenders -- Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. -- have agreed to answer questions from the group's members at on April 10 at 7 p.m. ET.

"For our members, we would like to see an end to the war by the end of 2007," Eli Pariser, MoveOn.org's executive director, told ABC News. "That's what we want. Then the question is: 'How do you get there?'"

At a minimum, the group's "virtual town hall meeting" will be heard as a streaming radio broadcast over the Internet. The group is also exploring whether the discussion will be carried live by radio stations and whether there will be streaming video of the candidates answering the questions.

Clinton's decision to participate in the forum and subsequent survey may offer a high-profile opportunity to evaluate the way ardent Iraq War opponents view her position on the war.

Clinton and Obama have both reversed their earlier opposition to setting a target date for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq. Obama, however, actively tries to separate himself from Clinton, who voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq in 2002, by invoking his opposition to the Iraq War before it began.

Edwards, who like Clinton voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq, implicitly tries to separate himself from the former first lady by pointing to his 2005 apology for his vote.

Even though MoveOn.org's Dec. 31, 2007, out-of-Iraq goal is three months earlier than the March 31, 2008, pullout goal that passed the Senate Tuesday with the support of Clinton and Obama, 85 percent of MoveOn.org's members recently told the organization in an online survey that they wanted the group to go along with a March 31, 2008, exit from Iraq.

"Eight-five percent said they wanted us to support it," said Pariser, referring to the March 31, 2008, pullout date. "Not because it is our dream policy but because it is a step in the right direction and it takes the fight to the president."