Of course the Dem candidates should be all over the Iraq issue, proferring plans and proposals of their own. And of course it's legit for them to tap concern, frustration and anger about the issue to surface supporters for their campaigns.

But some are more adroit than others in their online tactics to do so.

Biden, Richardson, and Clinton are running similar online petition campaigns -- "help us send a message to Congress" to de-authorize the war, set a date certain to withdraw troops, whatever. Boring from a tactical standpoint. Plug in [issue] here! I'm amazed that people still "sign" these things. But I guess enough do to keep the prospecting pipeline going.

Dodd takes the same generic name-gathering approach, but focuses his e-petition-signers on his fellow candidates. The predicate in his approach is that he's more anti-Iraq than his fellow candidates. Still boring tactically, but at least you get the idea that he's running against other presidential candidates, not the Congress.

Edwards IMHO is taking the cleverest approach, with his appeal for funds to run anti-war TV and online ads. First, he's using online platform to involve supporters in the very process of creating the ads. Second, he's leveraging the viral potential of YouTube in the process. Third, he's asking for money upfront to do this. Fourth, he's actually using the money specifically to influence the public on the issue (and not accidentally, to position himself as lead champion on the matter). It all seems more credible ... and likely to put Edwards in front of many more people.

Obama and Kucinich seem content to focus their current online appeals on the grassroots psyche of the net population. That is, "Give to me to demonstrate that 'the people' are calling the shots in my campaign." Obama continues to generate the online gifts to support that claim. I suspect Kucinich is somewhat off the pace for reaching his one million $50 gifts goal. Meantime, both candidates' website presents an Iraq plan, but neither is using the issue directly to generate activists or dollars.

So when it comes to Round One of issue-driven campaign fundraising, I'd have to give the round to Edwards ... points for smart use of the online platform, plus points for savvy fundraising.