Of course, John and Obama's terms didn't overlap so it's hard to compare the two.  I agree with Edwards' statements at the time that funding should have been tied to things like oversight on contracts.

Speaker:  John Reid Edwards (NA)
Title: Edwards To Vote Against Bush's $87 Billion Request
Date: 2003-10-14
Speech
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Edwards To Vote Against Bush's $87 Billion Request

Senator John Edwards (D-NC) released the following statement today announcing that he will vote against President Bush's request for $87 billion for Iraq:

"I will vote against the president's request for $87 billion for Iraq. The troops in Iraq deserve our absolute support, but this president does not deserve our blind trust."

"I believe we have a responsibility to support our troops in Iraq. I believe we have a responsibility to help rebuild Iraq."

"But our troops will not be safe and this mission will not succeed until this president does three things: first, put forward a credible plan for the rebuilding and self-governing of Iraq; second, engage our allies in a meaningful way; third, take steps to assure the American people that the rebuilding of Iraq will not be exploited as a means to give insider sweetheart deals to Bush's friends."

"It is clear to me that President Bush is not going to change direction unless someone stands up to him and says 'no.' For that reason, I plan to vote against the president's request for $87 billion for Iraq."

"President Bush has ignored the warnings and advice from our allies and members of Congress, including leaders in his own party. Because of his unwillingness to engage and listen to others, he has failed to create the kind of international coalition that can succeed in Iraq, the American people are called on to shoulder more and more of the financial burden of this mission, and too many Americans have lost their lives."

"I continue to stand by our men and women in uniform. Ridding the world of Saddam Hussein was the right thing to do, and I stand by my vote. Our troops have done a remarkable job in Iraq and deserve better from our president and our Congress."

I would disagree with you, however, if you construe the position he took at that time as voting against the request with the purpose of defunding the war to end the occupation.  Please set me straight if I'm misreading the reasons he voted no.

which must make you crazy, given how much you're giving, but my favorite thing about your husband's political self is that he's made some really big mistakes, really embarrassing bad calls--and, I think, learned from them. My life is a series of big mistakes: that's how I learn. I suspect that Senator Edwards is the same, and I find his judgement easier to trust, sorta paradoxically, because he's messed up in the past, acknowledged it, and committed to change. I find the ability to correct bad judgement more important (or, really, more realistic) than always depending on good judgement in the first place.

I only wish he'd made the right call on gay marriage  right now, isntead of in a few years. I know he'll get there, but ...