With several primaries and caucuses coming up, I thought I'd give an overview of what the candidates are saying about global warming and other environmental issues on the campaign trail.  But first, here are the important dates coming up.

Republicans
1.15.08 - Michigan primary
1.19.08 - South Carolina primary
1.29.08 - Florida primary
2.5.08 - Super Tuesday

Democrats
1.19.08 - Nevada caucus
1.26.08 - South Carolina primary
2.5.08 - Super Tuesday

Here is what some of the candidates are saying on the trail:

John McCain

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McCain said retraining programs in Michigan can help the nation address global warming and dependence on foreign oil, through research on such items as hydrogen- or battery-run cars.

"Michigan can lead the nation and the world again," he said after a town hall meeting in Howell. "We've got the technology here. We've got the academic base. We've got the ability to bring green technologies to the world."

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But McCain, the Arizona senator who won the Michigan primary in 2000 and is trying to build more momentum after winning in New Hampshire last week, is drawing large crowds and makes no apologies for his stance on immigration or on another issue that sets him apart from some conservatives: global warming.

It was one of the issues McCain emphasized yesterday in a stop at Michigan State University in East Lansing, where he told the students that if global warming is not occurring, it still would be better to reduce emissions and leave a healthier planet to future generations. "It's going to be your planet, not mine," the 71-year-old said.

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Mentioning the North American International Auto Show, which opens this week in Detroit, McCain pointed to several new models of hybrid vehicles, electric cars and flex-fuel vehicles as evidence that U.S. auto industry is meeting foreign competition head-on through environmentally-friendly technology.

"I believe Michigan can lead the nation in this new green tech," he said.

McCain said the world is in the midst of a climate change, partially due to man-made pollution, and he urged greater development of "clean" technologies.

Mitt Romney

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The Free Press sent questions to eight top candidates asking their views on tackling invasive species, fixing global warming, diverting Great Lakes water to parched states and supporting $20 billion in funding to restore the lakes, from rebuilding sewers to repairing wetlands.

Only Republican Mitt Romney, a Michigan native, responded.

John Edwards

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Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Monday said a proposed coal-fired power plant shouldn't be built in northeastern South Carolina, continuing his call for a ban on those facilities.

"My view is that needs to stop," Edwards said of the $1 billion, 600-megawatt plant set to be built along the Pee Dee River in this early voting state. Santee Cooper officials are awaiting a final permit from state environmental regulators.

He also said he was opposed to new nuclear power plants and that the U.S. has no credibility in global warming discussions. "We are the worst polluter on the planet," Edwards said.

Have you seen other quotes from candidates about global warming?   Post them in the comments here.