Most American voters continue to favor plans that would remove all U.S. combat troops from Iraq early next year. But, most also say that’s not likely to happen. That ongoing disparity is a key ingredient in the wave of pessimism gripping the country. At the same time, the Administration’s Iraqi policy has made some slight gains in the Court of public opinion.

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 55% of likely voters want U.S. combat troops out or Iraq early in 2008. Thirty-four percent (34%) are opposed to that approach while 11% are not sure. That’s little changed from a month ago. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Democrats want the troops to leave Iraq. That view is shared by 35% of Republicans and 49% of those not affiliated with either major political party.

However, just 25% say it’s at least somewhat likely that the troops will come home while 70% say it is not. Thirty-one percent (31%) of Democrats say it’s likely along with 25% of Republicans and 17% of unaffiliateds.

Twenty-five percent (25%) of voters now say the troop surge is working and another 26% say it’s too soon to tell. A month ago, just 19% considered the surge a success and 24% said it was too early to tell. Combining those totals means that 51% are at least willing to give the policy more time. That’s up from 43% a month ago.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Republicans say either that the surge has worked or that it’s too early to tell. That view is shared by 51% of unaffiliateds and 28% of Democrats.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Democrats say the surge has been a failure. That assessment is shared by 44% of unaffiliateds and 19% of Republicans.

Overall, 31% of voters want troops brought home from Iraq immediately.

An earlier survey, found that a narrow majority wants to wait for the September report from General David Petraeus before making any major policy changes. A plurality of Americans has no opinion on Petraeus personally. Twenty-four percent (24%) have a favorable opinion while 35% have an unfavorable view.

Another survey found that nearly half of American voters believe the withdrawal of U.S. troops will lead to an increase in sectarian violence. Roughly the same percentage believe that when troops leave, the Iraqi people will still be better off than they were under the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Fifty percent (50%) of voters give the President poor marks for his handling of the situation in Iraq.

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