The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey 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. Looked at from a longer perspective, however, there has been little change in attitudes towards a troop withdrawal since tracking of this question began last August.

Twenty-four percent (24%) would like to see the troops brought home immediately while 39% say they should be brought home at some point within a year. Thirty-five percent (33%) say the troops should stay until the mission is complete. That number has ranged from 31% to 39% since tracking began.

Politically, the 39% who want the troops home in a year will be the focus of attention from both the Obama and McCain campaigns. The race for the White House remains tight in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll and, voters currently trust McCain more than Obama when it comes to handling the situation in Iraq.

Voters are evenly divided as to whether Obama’s current trip overseas is a necessary step or a publicity stunt. Forty-one percent (41%) say it’s important and 44% disagree. Not surprisingly, Democrats tend to see the trip as necessary while Republicans tend to view as a publicity stunt.

More men than women believe the troops should stay in Iraq until the mission is completed. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of men now think the troops should remain in Iraq, down from 45% in early June. Just 27% of women agree. While 58% of men think the troops should come home within the year, 68% of women agree.

When it comes to party affiliations, 91% of Democrats think the troops should come home within a year, along with just 28% of Republicans. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of GOP voters believe the troops should remain in Iraq until the mission is completed. Just 6% of Democrats agree.

A national survey released last week found that most voters agree with Barack Obama that Iraq is not the “central front” of the War on Terror. A survey released Sunday found that 42% of voters think the United States should help Israel if it decides to attack Iran. Finally, a poll released last week found that a growing number of Americans believe the U.S. and its allies are winning the War on Terror.

The survey was conducted in partnership with Fox Television Stations, Inc.

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