Most American voters (53%) say that Democrats in Congress have not done “enough to change President Bush’s policies in Iraq.” A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 26% hold the opposite view and believe the Democrats have done too much on Iraq. Thirteen percent (13%) say Congress has done the right amount of pushing while 8% are not sure.

The survey also found that 56% would like to “remove almost all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by early 2008.” Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree while 9% are not sure. Women are more likely than men to want troops home but there is no significant gender gap when it comes to the question of whether Democrats have done enough to change the President’s policies.

However, while 56% want to see combat troops out of Iraq, only 23% believe that goal is even somewhat likely to be achieved. The gap between the 56% who want the troops home and the 23% who think that is likely to happen is a key cause of voter frustration. It also highlights why 50% of Americans say the President is doing a poor job handling the situation in Iraq. Seventy-three percent (73%) of American voters say it is not likely that U.S. troops will leave Iraq by early next year.

As you would expect, there are strong partisan differences on these issues. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Democratic voters believe that Democrats in Congress have not done enough to change the President’s policies in Iraq. Only 26% of Republicans agree.

Eighty percent (80%) of Democrats want combat troops out of Iraq by early next year. That view is shared by 31% of Republicans and 53% of those not affiliated with either major political party.

While most Americans say the Democrats in Congress have not done enough to change the policies in Iraq, voters continue to trust Democrats more than Republicans on this issue. The latest update of Rasmussen Reports’ tracking on this issue found that 48% of voters trust Democrats while 38% trust the GOP. Another survey found that pessimism about Iraq is growing.

The current survey also found that just 6% of voters say it is Very Likely Iraq will remain a democracy after U.S. troops leave. Another 24% say that outcome is Somewhat Likely.

Eleven percent (11%) say it is Very Likely Iraq will remain an ally of the United States after U.S. troops leave. Twenty-nine percent (29%) say that upbeat assessment is Somewhat Likely. Republicans are more optimistic than Democrats or unaffiliated voters.

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