The headline of this article should be Red Voters Still Stupid
AP Poll: U.S. Split Over Handling of Iraq
53 minutes ago U.S. National - AP
By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Americans remain sharply divided in their views of how President Bush (news - web sites) is handling Iraq (news - web sites), and their confidence that a stable, democratic government will be established in that country has eroded, an Associated Press poll found.
Fewer than half, 47 percent, think it's likely Iraq will be able to establish a stable government, according to the poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs. Just over half, 51 percent, say they think it's unlikely.
In April, 55 percent said they believed a stable, democratic government probably would be established, and 44 percent thought it was not likely.
While doubts are growing about Iraq's future, the American public's view of the president's handling of the situation has remained fairly constant through the year — dipping slightly in June — but evenly split now.
About half of the people still approve of going to war there, even as they see problems, said Charles Franklin, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "It's a question of whether they hold the president personally responsible for the troubles there."
As long as half the public see the war as the right decision, they are likely to continue supporting Bush's efforts, he said.
Some of the doubters acknowledge they still see a stable Iraq as an important goal.
"Once you made that initial step, you can't backtrack," said Richard Bates, 50, a Democrat who works at a steel mill near Pittsburgh. "But I'm concerned Iraq is going to become another Vietnam."
Those most likely to have lost faith in the chances of a stable, democratic Iraq are those with college degrees, Southerners, city-dwellers, homeowners, Catholics, independents and Democrats.
Asked whether Iraq will be able to establish a stable democracy, Susan Welch of Jasper, Ga., was quick to say: "No way."
"I don't think that President Bush started off with the right attitude — you cannot beat people into freedom," said Welch, a political independent and a part-time postal carrier.
People were about evenly divided on the president's handling of Iraq, with 48 percent approving and 50 percent disapproving. In June, 43 percent approved, and 55 percent disapproved.
"I have no problem with the president's handling of Iraq," said Donna Baker, a 56-year-old Republican from Robinson Creek, Ky. "I haven't heard any plan better."
Baker said she expects the election in Iraq to go off as planned Jan. 30, though not without problems. The establishment of a stable democracy in Iraq will take time, she said.
Rising violence in recent weeks suggests her concerns are well-founded.
A series of insurgent attacks in recent days have killed more than 80 Iraqis, mostly members of the country's fledgling security forces. Iraqi and U.S. officials insist elections will go ahead next month despite the violence and the fact that some insurgent strongholds have been too dangerous for voter registration to begin.
More than half, 52 percent, still think the United States overall is on the wrong track, while 43 percent think it's headed in the right direction. The pessimistic mood has lingered since January, when people were about evenly split on the country's direction soon after the capture of deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).
Bush's overall job approval in the poll among registered voters was at 51 percent, with 47 percent disapproving, about the same as in November shortly after his re-election.
The president got some of his strongest ratings for his handling of foreign policy and terrorism, with 53 percent approving and 45 percent disapproving.
The AP-Ipsos poll of 1,000 adults, including 845 registered voters, was taken Dec. 6-8 and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points for all adults, 3.5 percentage points for registered voters. |
