WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The first Democratic debate of the 2008 presidential election cycle began with a question on the war in Iraq.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, was the first to answer saying, "This is not America's war to win or lose. We have given the Iraqi people the chance to have freedom, to have their own country. It is up to them to decide whether or not they're going to take that chance."

Sen. Joe Biden, D-Delaware, had a similar response, saying "This is not a game show. You know, this is not a football game. This is not win or lose."

Many candidates reiterated what they've said since the early stages of their campaigns. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, repeated his opposition to the war.

"I am proud that I opposed this war from the start," Obama said, "because I thought that it would lead to the disastrous conditions that we've seen on the ground in Iraq."

Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards took the first negative jab at opposing candidates and saying, "Sen. Clinton and anyone else who voted for this war has to search themselves and decide whether they believe they've voted the right way. If so, they can support their vote."