WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Members of the liberal community MoveOn.org believe that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, is the best Democratic presidential candidate "to lead the country out of Iraq," according to the results of an online straw poll released Thursday.

MoveOn members chose Obama after listening to seven Democratic presidential hopefuls answer questions on the Iraq issue Tuesday in a virtual town hall setting. The results of the straw poll, which was limited to members, are not scientific, but do provide a snapshot of how MoveOn members perceive candidates' positions on Iraq. A spokesman for the organization said that 42,218 members participated. The organization boasts a membership of 3.2 million.

While Obama won the overall vote, those who attended sanctioned MoveOn house parties picked former Sen. John Edwards, D-North Carolina, first and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson second when answering the question.

This was the first of three virtual town hall meetings that MoveOn.org Political Action Committee will host for the Democratic presidential candidates. Picked to participate in this Iraq forum were Sen. Joe Biden, D-Delaware; Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-New York; Edwards; Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut; Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio; Obama and Richardson.

MoveOn provided its members with links to each of the candidate's websites if they wanted to donate money or sign up to volunteer for that campaign.

Results

"Which candidate do you believe would be best able to lead the country out of Iraq?"

MoveOn member vote, overall:

Obama             28%
Edwards           25%
Kucinich          17%
Richardson        12%
Clinton           11%
Biden              6%
Dodd               1%

Votes by MoveOn members who attended House Parties:

 
Edwards           25%
Richardson        21%
Obama             19%
Kucinich          15%
Biden             10%
Clinton            7%
Dodd               4%