Here are my thoughts on Iraq and how Obama should frame the debate, for what it's worth:
Obama has continuously called Clinton out on her vote in favor of the war (and to be clear, that is what the vote was for). In their one on one debate he scored big points by taking it at her for this vote. However, he should go much further. And here is why -
Obama always limits the argument to "she made the wrong decision regarding authorizing force in Iraq." While this is true, he needs to highlight that she made the grave error of continuously supporting the invasion in the following years. She supported it after it was clear there were no WMD's, after it was clear there was no link to Al Qaeda, after it was clear it was an utter disaster. She supported it as people were forced from their homes by militias, kids went without adequate food and medicine, looting was widespread, essentially it was complete chaos.
This is her major mistake. Even if Hillary didn't think she was actually authorizing the war with her vote, this doesn't explain why she cointinuously and vocally supported it for over two years. Many Americans feel they were "duped" into believing that Iraq had WMD's and were somehow linked to Al Qaeda. However, when it was clear these were both false, opinion started to shift. It took Hillary over 2 years to finally figure it out. 2 years of blood, death, robbery, refugees, and other unnecessary chaos. Hillary was an enabler of this. She went out of her way to make speeches in support of this war.
Here are a few quotes I found:
"We must stay the course" in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and asked for more troops to finish the job.
"We have to exert all of our efforts militarily"
November 29, 2003 Hilary visits the troops In Iraq and Afghanistan
I am both a little optimistic and a little pessimistic, but what I'm trying to do is be realistic about where we are and what we need to be successful. We have no option but to stay involved and committed. I have had many disputes and disagreements with the administration over how that authority has been used, but I stand by the vote to provide the authority because I think it was a necessary step in order to maximize the outcome that did occur in the Security Council with the unanimous vote to send in inspectors.
Dec 15, 2003 Speech to CFR
She continued to be hawkish well into 2004, and 2005 before finally changing her position...
It is about much more than her vote authorizing the war. It is her decision to back it and actively support it when it was absolutely clear that the American public had been duped (well not all of us), and that chaos was ensuing on the ground. Taking this one step further is essential for Obama. It will further his argument that what is important is not just being ready to lead, but being ready to lead correctly. It will also put Hillary on the defensive. This is obviously doesn't like to be, as we saw from the last debate where she stammered on and on in circles about finally came up with something about saddam being a megalomaniac. It will further expose her weaknesses, and highlight his strengths... His strengths to think outside the Beltway, to make the right decisions (even with his alleged lack of experience), and to take a stand in what he believes in. This is what the primary voters want to hear... so please Obama, take it one step further.