Poll Shows Strong Shift Of Support to Democrats

Washington Post/ABC News poll
Washington Post - October 10, 2006 – explanatory article by David S. Broder and Dan Balz
Poll conducted October 5-8, 2006 of 1,204 people

Excerpts from the article:

“Bush's ratings on the war in Iraq are among the lowest of his presidency, with 35 percent approving of how he is handling the situation and 64 percent disapproving (54 percent strongly disapprove). On terrorism, a majority (53 percent) said they disapprove of his performance. That is the lowest rating Bush has received on his signature issue.

Asked whether the war in Iraq has been worth fighting, 63 percent said no, the highest recorded during Bush's presidency. Fifty-one percent agreed with Bush's argument that Iraq is a front in the global campaign against terrorism, the lowest of his presidency. Fifty percent of those surveyed said that the country is safer today than it was before Sept. 11, 2001, but 42 percent, a new high, said the nation is now less safe.

Still, there is no significant support for withdrawing U.S. forces immediately. Half of those surveyed -- about the same percentage it has been throughout the year -- said they would like to see troop levels decrease. Despite the high number of casualties, only a fifth said they supported immediate withdrawal.”

Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?
39% Approve
60% Disapprove

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bush is handling the situation in Iraq?
35% Approve
64% Disapprove

[P]lease tell me how important [the situation in Iraq] will be in your vote for Congress this year. Will it be one of the single most important issues, very important, somewhat important or less important than that?
83% Important
17% Not as important

And which of the following will be the SINGLE MOST important issue in your vote for Congress this year: (the U.S campaign against terrorism), (the war in Iraq), (the economy), (immigration), (ethics in government), (health care) or something else?
26% War in Iraq
23% Economy
13% Health care
9% Immigration
14% U.S campaign against terrorism
10% Ethics in government

Do you think things in this country (are generally going in the right direction) or do you feel things (have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track)?
32% Right direction
66% Wrong track

Which political party, the (Democrats) or the (Republicans), do you trust to do a better job handling the situation in Iraq?
51% Democrats
38% Republicans
3% Both
7% Neither

All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war with Iraq was worth fighting, or not? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
35% Worth fighting
25% Strongly
10% Somewhat
63% Not worth fighting
13% Somewhat
50% Strongly

Do you think the war with Iraq has or has not contributed to the long-term security of the United States? IF YES: Has it contributed to the long-term security of the United States a great deal, or somewhat?
48% Has contributed
50% Has not contributed

Do you think the number of U.S. military forces in Iraq should be (increased), (decreased), or kept about the same?
18% Increased
51% Decreased
28% Kept about the same

(IF DECREASED) Should all U.S. forces in Iraq be withdrawn immediately, or should they be decreased, but not all withdrawn immediately?
37% Withdrawn immediately
63% Decreased but not immediately

Do you think of the war with Iraq as (part of the war against terrorism), or as (separate from the war against terrorism)?
51% Part
48% Separate

Article available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR2006100900868.html
Poll details available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_100906.htm