Will top 2020 Democrats make ending war in Afghanistan a defining issue or an afterthought?

Lets face it — to date much of the 2020 race for president among the field of Democratic contenders has been laser focused on defeating Donald TrumpDonald TrumpThe Memo: The Obamas unbound, on race Iran says onus is on US to rejoin nuclear deal on third anniversary of withdrawal Assaults on Roe v Wade increasing MORE — as well as domestic politics. Foreign policy, for the most part, has been on the back burner.

Besides launching political volleys Trump’s way, the dialogue in the race for the presidency among Democrats has ranged from ideas such as expanding the U.S. Supreme Court from nine to 11 judges to abolishing the electoral college and breaking up Facebook — all important and debatable, and all domestic issues. Front and center in the nomination contest’s discourse, however, have been more traditional topics, like healthcare access, whether or not to pursue Medicare for All, gun control, social and economic justice policies, as well as how to best tackle climate change.

While several of the candidates hovering atop the polls in the 2020 running have touted some policies reflecting their visions for abroad, none have defined themselves by it. This includes grappling with America’s longest-ever war: Afghanistan.

Since its inception, the 18-year war in Afghanistan has cost Americans tremendously in blood and treasure. The AP recently noted that as of early 2019, “the U.S. has spent $737 billion on the war and lost more than 2,400 military lives, according to the Pentagon.”

And that’s not the totality, unfortunately. In fact, the Pentagon recently said that the war in Afghanistan costs taxpayers $45 billion per year… with no end in sight they may have to keep footing that bill for years to come.

At a time when public opinion for the war’s foreverness is waning, data suggests that, “About half of adults (49 percent) say the United States has mostly failed in achieving its goals there.”

All this begs the question of why Democratic candidates leading in the polls aren’t talking more about such a major issue.

This dynamic represents a sharp contrast from the last Democrat to successfully win the presidency. In 2008, Barack ObamaBarack Hussein ObamaThe Memo: The Obamas unbound, on race Obamas' first White House dog, Bo, dies Census results show White House doubling down on failure MORE made an anti-war message of ending the war in Iraq a core pillar of his campaign. At the time, the Iraq war was enormously unpopular, while the majority of Americans still supported the war in Afghanistan.

Since then, the tables have turned, and Americans have soured on the continued presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan as the war approaches nearly two-decades in duration.

To be clear — it’s not that candidates haven’t taken a position on the seemingly endless war; on the contrary, a slew of the top-polling Democratic White House hopefuls have made public their desire to bring an end to the war that started in October of 2001:

• Senator Bernie SandersBernie SandersGOP is consumed by Trump conspiracy theories Manchin on collision course with Warren, Sanders Sanders on Cheney drama: GOP is an 'anti-democratic cult' MORE (I-Vt.) has Tweeted, “The American people do not want endless war.”
• Senator Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisBiden to record video message for 'Vax Live' concert Harris says Mexico, US can work together to improve quality of life in Northern Triangle Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says 'it is time to pass the baton on to someone else' MORE (D-Calif.) noted that, “she supports a ‘political solution’ to the war that would allow U.S. troops to return home.”
• Mayor Pete ButtigiegPete Buttigieg'Funky Academic:' Public has been 'groomed to measure progress by firsts' Biden administration in talks with LA Mayor Eric Garcetti for India ambassador post: reports Business groups target moderate Democrats on Biden tax plans MORE, a veteran who served in Afghanistan, “supports pulling troops out of Afghanistan.”
• Senator Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenFree Speech Inc.: The Democratic Party finds a new but shaky faith in corporate free speech Debate over ICBMs: Will 'defund our defenses' be next? Manchin on collision course with Warren, Sanders MORE (D-Mass.) said, “I think it’s right to get our troops out of Afghanistan.”
• Former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenDefense lawyers for alleged Capitol rioters to get tours of U.S. Capitol Sasse to introduce legislation giving new hires signing bonuses after negative jobs report Three questions about Biden's conservation goals MORE internally opposed the 2009 Afghanistan troop surge, and has said that, “Nation building in a country as destitute and decentralized as Afghanistan, he argued, was hopeless…” Still, as a newly announced candidate for President in 2020, he hasn’t yet spelled out a specific plan for Afghanistan moving forward.
• Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) has been less detailed on the issue as well.

Even though a number of top-tier candidates have drawn a line in the sand when it comes to their position on ending America’s longest war, the reality is that none of them has made it a hallmark their campaign, or for that matter, harnessed a potent anti-war message like Obama successfully did in '08 with the unpopular war in Iraq.

Lesser-knowns, such as Congresswoman and Iraq war veteran Tulsi GabbardTulsi GabbardFox News says network and anchor Leland Vittert have 'parted ways' New co-chairs named for congressional caucus for millennials Tulsi Gabbard blasts new House rules on gender neutral language as 'height of hypocrisy' MORE (D-Hawaii), have tried to brand themselves as being the anti-war candidate, but from the start her campaign has failed to take off or generate momentum.

Still, public opinion data increasingly suggests that many Americans have grown tired of the war in Afghanistan. With such a vast array of candidates jockeying for the job of commander-in-chief, and particularly within the crowded upper echelon of the field, it’s an open question as to whether or not one of the leading Democrats will grab ahold of the anti-war mantle, own it, and define their campaign with it. If they're looking for a way to stand out from the pack and gain some altitude by breaking through with voters who are juggling with the embarrassment of riches when it comes to the candidates, such a move could help.

Dave Jacobson is a Democratic ad maker, co-founder and partner of J&Z Strategies, a national media, digital and campaign consulting firm. He is also a CNN Political Commentator. Follow him on Twitter @daverjacobson