Rasmussen Reports
The most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a mid-term election.
Premium MembershipLoginSignup
Search
Sign up for free daily updates
Advertisement
Advertisement

Pessimism Growing on Iraq: 50% Give President Poor Marks on Handling the Situation
Advertisement

Just 27% of Americans believe that President Bush is doing a good or an excellent job handling the situation in Iraq. That’s unchanged from a month ago. Twenty-two percent (22%) say the President is doing a “fair” job while 50% rate his performance as “poor” when it comes to Iraq.

The latest Rasmussen Reports War on Terror update finds a growing pessimism among American voters and a lingering partisan divide on every aspect of the debate.

As you would expect, there is a huge partisan gap on rating the President. Still, just 52% of Republicans are willing to give their party leader good or excellent ratings when it comes to Iraq. Only 8% of Democrats offer such a positive assessment while 76% of Democrats say the President is doing a poor job.

Twenty-five percent (25%) expect things to get better in Iraq over the next six months while 48% think it will get worse. Even Republicans are growing more pessimistic—just 46% of those in the President’s party expect things to get better. Among Democrats, 66% expect the opposite.

Just 36% of voters now believe that the United States and its allies are winning the War on Terror. That's down from 40% a month ago and unchanged from 36% the month before. Thirty-two percent (32%) believe the terrorists are winning.

Again, the partisan gap is wide. By a 59% to 17% margin, Republicans believe the U.S. and its allies are winning the War on Terror. By a 66% to 10% margin, Democrats believe the terrorists are winning. Those not affiliated with either major party are evenly divided.

Forty percent (40%) of American voters say the U.S. is safer today than it was before 9/11. That's down eight points from a month ago and up one from two months ago. Sixty-three percent (63%) of Republicans believe the U.S. is safer today. Only 23% of Democrats share that view.

Just 29% of all voters think that in the long run, the mission in Iraq will be deemed a success. Fifty-three percent (53%) believe history will ultimately count Iraq as a U.S. failure.

Rasmussen Reports regularly tracks public attitudes towards Congress, the War on Terror, and other topics.

Rasmussen Reports also continuously updates data for all Democratic and Republican Presidential candidates including general election match-ups, favorability ratings and ideological perceptions. Ratings are also provided for Members of Congress, Other Political Figures, and Journalists.

Rasmussen Reports releases updated polling data on the Democratic Nomination Process every Monday and on the Republican contest every Tuesday. Results for the Generic Congressional Ballot are updated monthly.

Rasmussen Reports also conducts ongoing surveys measuring the attitudes of Americans on the news of the day and the latest updates can be found on the Rasmussen Reports home page.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.

Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.


Who is Winning the War on Terror?

Dates

US/Allies

Terrorists

June 15-17

36

32

June 4-5

40

32

May 7-8

36

34

Apr 11-12

37

33

Mar 19-20

38

34

Feb 21-22

36

36

Jan 29-30

37

32

Jan 3-4

33

36

Dec 8-9, 2006

35

36

Nov 15-16

45

33

Nov 4-5

40

32

Oct 25-26

38

29

Oct 7-8

31

36

Sept 14-15

41

29

Sept 6-7

41

31

Aug 13-14

38

30

Aug 2-3

39

33

July 5-6

44

26

June 9-10

41

30

June 3-4

42

35

May 5-7

40

30

Apr 19-20

39

32

Mar 13-14

41

35

Feb 24-26

39

36

Feb 8-9

42

31

Jan 13-14

44

26

Dec 19-20, 2005

50

25

Dec 17-18

44

28

Nov 30- Dec 1

48

28

Oct 15-16

39

34

Sept 14-15

40

36

Aug 10-11

38

36

July 13-14

44

34

June 5-7

42

32

May 14-15

44

29

Apr 8-10

47

29

Feb 11-13

47

26

NOTE:

2006 Data Beginning with Nov 4-5 Based Upon Interviews with Likely Voters
All of 2005 Data and 2006 Data Up to Nov 4-5 Based Upon Interviews with Adults
2004 Data Based Upon Interviews with Likely Voters

TOP STORIES

Daily Presidential Approval Index

When the Warmest in History Isn't By Debra J. Saunders

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls

Electoral College: Obama 260 McCain 160

77% Say Children Should Say Pledge At School Every Day

68% Say Obama Politically Liberal

Labels Matter: Progressive Better than Liberal, Reagan-Like Better than Conservative

Voters Have Low Opinion of Congressional Democrats Key to the Economy

Black, Youth Voters Continue to Show Greater Optimism in Nation’s Future

68% Prefer “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays”

Advertisement