Poll: Most Southeasterners Oppose Bush Handling of Iraq War

RALEIGH, N.C. — A majority of people in five Southeastern states are unhappy with President Bush's plan to build up U.S. troop numbers in Iraq, and an increasing number disapprove of the way he is handling the presidency, a new Elon University poll shows.

The survey of 719 residents of Florida, Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas showed 57 percent of those questioned disapproved or strongly disapproved of increasing the number of U.S. troops in Iraq.

Sixty-four percent disapproved or strongly disapproved of Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, compared to 57 percent in a survey of the same states one year ago, while 31 percent approved or strongly approved of it, down from 39 percent last year.

The survey was conducted February 18-22 by Elon's Institute for Politics and Public Affairs. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percent.

The poll found that 58 percent of respondents disapproved of Bush's job performance, up from 52 percent in the February 2006 survey. It said 38 percent approved or strongly approved of his work, compared to 43 percent last year.

When asked to identify the most important issue facing the country, 45 percent of respondents named the war in Iraq, compared to 26 percent in February 2006. An even 50 percent said a stalemate is the most likely outcome for the United States in Iraq, while 56 percent said the war is not worth fighting.

A majority of respondents - 44 percent - said they trust Congressional Democrats to do a better job handling the situation in Iraq, while 38 percent said they trust President Bush.

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Having been there the first time, I can say that we need to ensure that the government there is stable and running smoothly before we leave. If we abandon those people to the devices of the terrorists, their deaths and the ensuing massacre will be on the democrats heads. They are now a democracy, and an ally. If Japan was being overrun by terrorists and rebel factions, we would be the first ones there to help them and save the day. Noone would complain. If England was attacked by another country, we'd be the first ones there. Why is Iraq different?

These people need us there. If we need more soldiers ther to make it all happen faster, so be it. Lets get it over with. They do need our help however. They are a third world country. They throw rocks at tanks. They need our military there, or they will be overrun. If not by their own collection of terrorists, then by the Iranians who are only now being friendly and trying to wiggle into Iraq, or yet another country.

sixsix210nc
February 25, 2007 8:21 p.m.

What does it mean to "get out with dignity and honor." Staying in Iraq is neither dignified nor honorable. The US has lost the war -- the only options we have right now is to determine in exactly which way we want to lose: Shiite-led government along the order of the Taliban with ethnic cleansing of Sunni's, or a division of Iraq into three countries who will fight each other for the foreseeable future. Either way, the US will be responsible for many more civilian deaths than Saddam ever caused (and there were thousands of those). Under either end, we will have created a terrorist training ground that we will have to deal with for decades.

mvnull
February 24, 2007 3:08 p.m.

Slippery when Wet - You are right, not one person that I have heard has told us how to get out of this war with dignity and honor. All they want to do is cut and run. If the Democrats expect to make any progress at all, they should list the errors being made at this time (not what happened four years ago) and then give details on their solution for each error they feel Bush is making. That will make sense, but then all they are doing is running a stupid "call'em names and stomp'em" campaign.

HARDWRKR
February 23, 2007 8:37 p.m.

I've read every one of these posts. Nobody seems to have a strategy of how to get out of this. chris is blinded by hate so we can't listen to him, all he does is attack ones character. Half his posts don't make sense anyway.

I agree with tarheel, he/she is calm and makes good points.

Me? I have to trust the person(s) in power to make the best decisions possible with the knowledge they have (at that point in time), to keep us safe as a nation. We are all Americans, we NEED to pull together. Remember how we all felt the day after 9/11? why aren't we feeling like that now? The terrorists are laughing at us. Our way of life is a stake here and all I see & hear is bickering and complaining. Liberals, WAKE UP! Far right, WAKE UP! We're being taken over from within by illegals! This crazyness has to stop somewhere, question is, WHERE??? The US is sinking and we're all just watching it happen. The Nazi's took over Germany before the people realized what was happening. Think about it

Low Voltage
February 23, 2007 6:51 p.m.

ok, i voted for him the first go-round. Knew it was a mistake the second time.your DARN RIGHT some of us disapprove of the way he has handled most everything and those of us who do disapprove are not all liberals either!

sign59727
February 23, 2007 6:07 p.m.