As General David Petraeus prepares his report on the situation in Iraq, most Americans (54%) say that report is not likely to change their views on what should happen next. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 23% believe the report is Somewhat Likely to influence their views while 8% say it is Very Likely to have an impact.

Petraeus may recommend reducing the number of U.S. troops in Iraq by about 4,000 soldiers early next year. That recommendation would be very well received. The Rasmussen Reports telephone survey found that 57% of American adults say they’d favor that approach while only 19% are opposed.

A longer term plan that gradually withdraws U.S. troops from Iraq over a period of several years draws more mixed reviews. Forty-three percent (43%) favor that approach, 35% are opposed, and 22% are not sure.

As with all questions on Iraq, there is a strong partisan divide. Republicans, by a 55% to 23% margin, strongly favor the proposal for withdrawing U.S. troops over a period of several years. Forty-two percent (42%) of Democrats oppose that plan while 35% favor it. Those not affiliated with either major party are evenly divided.

The General’s report comes at a time when 33% of American adults believe the situation in Iraq has gotten better over the past six months. Thirty-seven percent (37%) believe the situation has gotten worse while 23% say it has stayed pretty much the same. Republicans, by a 59% to 16% margin, say it has gotten better. Democrats, by a 55% to 14% margin, say it has gotten worse. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 29% say better and 38% say worse.

A separate survey released last week found that just 39% of American voters believe the Petraeus report will honestly and accurately reflect the General’s assessment of the situation in Iraq.

Rasmussen Reports regularly tracks public confidence in the War on Terror and the latest update shows that 39% of Americans believe the U.S. and its allies are winning. Thirty-two percent (32%) believe the terrorists are winning.

Among leading Presidential candidates, 20% of voters name Hillary Clinton as the one they’d trust most to handle the situation in Iraq. Sixteen percent (16%) name Barack Obama, 15% prefer Rudy Giuliani, and 12% Fred Thompson. All told, however, 42% named a Democratic candidate and 41% named a Republican.

Overall, voters say they trust Democrats more than Republicans on a whole series of issues tracked by Rasmussen Reports.

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