Where do the contenders (and the folks you didn’t even know were running) stand on the most controversial political issue? Below is a quick reference guide to the Iraq war positions of the presidential candidates in the 2008 race, which are as varied as they are hard to keep track of…

THE DEMOCRATS

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton (right): Opposes troop increase, favors cap on troop levels, has not specified timetable for staged withdrawal but says U.S. should extricate itself from Iraq by 2009. Has opposed using congressional spending power to end war.

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden: Wants to withdraw most U.S. troops by end of year, leaving about 20,000 in or near Iraq, as part of plan to see Iraq governed as largely autonomous Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish regions.

Opposes deployment of 21,500 more troops. Led Senate effort to pass non-binding resolution declaring war is against U.S. interest.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd: Opposes troop increase, would cap force at about 130,000 unless Congress approves more, has not specified withdrawal timetable, would not cut off money.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: Favors immediate withdrawal of 40,000-50,000 troops, would block money for troop increase.

Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel: Favors immediate withdrawal.

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Opposed U.S. invasion, favors troop withdrawal and cutting off additional money to continue the war.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: Supports capping troop levels at 130,000, beginning withdrawal May 1 and completing pullout of combat brigades by March 31, 2008.

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack: Calls on Congress to cut off funds to end the war.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (pictured below): Says U.S. troops should be redeployed by the end of the year to Afghanistan and other regions in the Persian Gulf.

NOTE: Four Democrats who were in the U.S. Senate when the war was authorized in late 2002 — Biden, Clinton, Dodd and Edwards — approved the authorization. Each now claims that in retrospect, they would not have voted that way. Barack Obama, who was elected to the Senate in 2004, opposed it from the start.

THE REPUBLICANS

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback: Opposes 21,500-troop increase, says ethnic partition of Iraq might have to occur.

Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore: Supports troop increase.

California Rep. Duncan Hunter (pictured): Opposes immediate withdrawal and opposes cutting additional money for the war.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Opposes abrupt withdrawal.

Arizona Sen. John McCain: Supports proposed troop increase as outlined by one-time rival George W. Bush; Opposes scheduling a withdrawal.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul: Among the few Republicans to vote against the war in 2002.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: Supports troop increase, favors adding five brigades in Baghdad and two regiments in Al-Anbar province.

Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo: Voted last year to reject timetable for withdrawal.

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson: Skeptical that troop increase will work, favors splitting Iraq into three separate states if unity not achieved soon.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (below): Supports troop increase.