Despite the President’s nationally televised address calling for a temporary increase in the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, most Americans continue to believe the nation’s policy should move in the opposite direction. Fifty-six percent (56%) of American voters favor reducing the number of U.S. troops in Iraq—exactly the same percentage who held that view before the President’s speech.

Thirty-four percent (34%) now support the President’s call for more troops, up three points since his speech.

Other findings from the survey show little change in public opinion over the past week. The inability of the President to sway opinion in his favor may have emboldened critics of his policy. Senator Chris Dodd (D) has introduced legislation to place a cap on the number of troops in Iraq. Also, a non-binding resolution has been introduced in the Senate stating that "escalating the United States military force presence in Iraq" is not in the national interest. The resolution was sponsored by Carl Levin (D), Joe Biden (D), Chuck Hagel (R), and Olympia Snowe (R).

Senator Hillary Clinton (D), who has struggled with Democratic activists concerning the situation in Iraq, has indicated she will support the measure. The most recent Rasmussen Reports survey of the Democratic Primary competition shows that Clinton’s lead has evaporated in recent weeks. Senator Barack Obama (D) is now virtually tied with Clinton.

A separate survey found that a plurality of Americans now believe the terrorists are winning the War on Terror. Just 26% believe that President Bush is doing a good or an excellent job handling the situation in Iraq. Another survey found overwhelming support for the Iraq Study Group recommendation to remove almost all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by early 2008.

Just 17% now say the withdrawal is somewhat or very likely to happen. That’s essentially unchanged over the past week.

Forty-one percent (41%) believe Iraq is at least somewhat likely to remain allied with the United States after our nation’s soldiers leave. Fifty percent (50%) say that is not likely. A week ago, those figures were 41% and 53% respectively.