Despite growing confidence that the U.S. and its allies are winning the war on terror, most Americans (52%) still believe it’s more important for the next president to bring the troops home from Iraq than win the war there.

A new Rasmussen Reports national survey finds that only 38% think winning is more important, while 10% are not sure.

Both numbers have shifted only slightly from a month ago, Both numbers have shifted only slightly from a month ago and two months ago. as have opinions on how the two major presidential candidates will handle the war in Iraq.

Another survey this week found that 63% of Americans want the troops brought home from Iraq within a year. That’s up from 58% three weeks ago and up from 61% from a month ago. There has been little change in attitudes towards a troop withdrawal since tracking of this question began last August.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of men think winning the war is more important, but only 30% of women agree. More than twice as many women (62%) say bringing the troops home is more important, while only 39% of men concur.

Voters still see Iraq as one of the biggest differences between the Presidential candidates. Nearly four out of five voters (78%) also continue to believe that finishing the mission is what is most important to Republican candidate John McCain. Nearly as many (76%) say bringing the troops home is primary to Democratic candidate Barack Obama.

Voters remain more confident that Obama will achieve his goal by the end of his first four-year term if elected than they are in McCain reaching his in the same time period. Forty-nine percent (49%) believe the United States is at least somewhat likely to win the war under a President McCain, while only 24% think that is likely under an Obama administration. Twenty-nine percent (29%) rate it Very Likely under McCain.

But 66% think a President Obama is at least somewhat likely to bring the troops home in four years, but only 34% think that is likely if McCain is elected. Thirty-two percent (32) say it is Very Likely under Obama.

Obama has traveled to Afghanistan and Iraq on a fact-finding mission in the past week, but most voters believe his mind is already made up on what course to follow in the war.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of likely McCain voters think winning the war is the more important goal for the next president in his first term, while 86% of those who say they plan to vote for Obama say bringing the troops home is more important.

A similar number of Republicans (77%) give the edge to winning, while 79% of Democrats – and 51% of unaffiliated voters -- favor bringing the troops home.

Eighty-five percent (85%) of potential McCain voters think the U.S. is at least somewhat likely to win the war in Iraq if their candidate is elected, and 57% of them think he is likely to bring the troops home in four years. Only 18% of potential Obama voters think the U.S. is likely to win the war if McCain is elected.

Conversely, 78% percent of likely Obama voters think he will bring the troops home by the end of his first term, while only 37% of them think he is likely to win the war. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of potential McCain voters think Obama is likely to bring the troops home, too.

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