The nine hopefuls - and their war chests

John Edwards (Has raised $7.4m for 2004 campaign)

North Carolina senator

Pros Legendary trial lawyer, most successful fundraiser

Cons Alleged irregularities among donors, no evidence his campaign was complicit

Stance on Iraq Hawkish

John Kerry ($7m)

Massachusetts senator

Pros Vietnam war hero

Cons Aloof, could be branded elitist liberal by Republicans

Iraq Ambivalent

Richard Gephardt ($3.5m)

Missouri congressman, leader in the House of Representatives

Pros Ultimate party machine candidate. Close to unions

Cons Presided over Democrat losses in 1998 election

Iraq Very hawkish

Joseph Lieberman ($3m)

Connecticut senator

Pros Experience - was Gore's running mate in 2002

Cons Sleepy speaking style. May be too rightwing

Iraq An uber-hawk

Howard Dean ( $2.6m)

Governor of Vermont until 2003

Pros Passionate, energetic, a medical doctor, reminds voters of The West Wing's Jed Bartlet

Cons Probably too leftwing

Iraq Dovish

Bob Graham ($1.1m)

Florida senator

Pros Earnest, low-key

Cons Perhaps too low-key

Iraq Dovish on Iraq, but only because he wants anti-terrorist military action to be top priority

Dennis Kucinich ($0.2m)

Ohio Congressman

Pros Principled politician

Cons Rank outsider

Iraq Ran anti-war lobby, declaring conflict illegal

The Rev Al Sharpton ($0.1m)

Civil rights leader

Pros Best speaker of the bunch, may be able to shift Democrat agenda leftwards

Cons Image as a divisive controversialist

Iraq Calls for concentration on domestic issues



Carol Moseley Braun ( $0.1m)

Ex-Illinois senator

Pros First black woman ever elected to Senate, only woman in the field

Cons Near-invisible so far

Iraq Dovish