Jan 24 (Reuters) - Following are comments by some declared and potential 2008 U.S. presidential candidates on President George W. Bush's State of the Union speech on Tuesday.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York Democrat:

"Instead of charting a new course in Iraq, including the political solution desperately needed, so that we can begin to bring our troops home, the president continued his defense of failed strategy and his escalation plan in Iraq."

Sen. Christopher Dodd, Connecticut Democrat:

"I remain steadfastly opposed to the president's plan for Iraq, sending thousands more of our nation's men and women into harm's way in a country in the midst of a civil war. The nation has overwhelmingly rejected the direction this war has gone in, and the direction the president seems insistent on moving forward with."

Former Sen. John Edwards, North Carolina Democrat:

"The American people said they wanted change and what they got was more of the same -- small ideas that won't make a difference in the lives of working Americans.

Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Republican, on NBC:

"I think the president is trying ... in a way, not quite to move beyond Iraq, but to remind us all that there are a lot of other issues and a lot of other things that concern us about creating a better future for ourselves. Iraq is part of it, but it's not the only part of it."

Sen. John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat, 2004 Democratic presidential nominee:

President Bush "glossed over the disastrous war and its multibillion-dollar price tag and implied again that our presence in Iraq is somehow improving the situation in that chaotic and turbulent country."

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Ohio Democrat:

"President Bush is using a broad brush to colorfully portray the State of this Union as bright and optimistic while thousands of our service men and women are dying in the president's misadventure in Iraq."

Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, on CBS:

"Immigration has a chance. I really do -- I think it's time we can come together on that issue ... I was glad to see him mention climate change. I'd like to have heard some more details on that, but I was glad to hear that mentioned."

Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois Democrat, on ABC:

"I think what was interesting today would be the lack of enthusiasm on the Republican side, not just the Democratic side, for the president's approach to Iraq. You saw in the chamber extraordinary skepticism, a skepticism that's reflected among the American people for this escalation of troop levels and a continuation of a strategy that hasn't worked."

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Democrat, on CNN:

"It's all his way and nobody else's way. Now, his tone was good, and everybody wants a president to succeed. We all want to protect our troops, but this is a policy that is not just dividing the country, but foreign policy-wise, it makes no sense."

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