80% of Americans Think Bush’s New Iraq Language is Just Spin

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Via Political Wire (an excellent poll and politics site; if you haven’t checked it out, you should):

“A substantial majority of Americans expect Democrats to reduce or end American military involvement in Iraq if they seize control of Congress next Tuesday, and say that Republicans would maintain — or increase — troop levels to try to win the war,” according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

“The poll found that just 29% of Americans approve of the way President Bush is managing the war in Iraq, matching the lowest mark of his presidency. Nearly 70% of Americans said Mr. Bush did not have a plan to end the war, and 80% said Mr. Bush’s latest offensive to rally public support for the conflict amounted to a change in language but not policy.

“The poll underlined the extent to which the war in Iraq has framed the midterm elections. It comes at a time when Democratic challengers across the country are running a final sweep of television advertisements attacking Mr. Bush’s handling of the war and as even some Republican incumbents — fearful of being swept out of office because of public opposition to the war — have become critical of it.”

In the generic congressional ballot, Democrats lead Republicans by a stunning 19 points, 53% to 33%.

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With only days left until December 31, we've raised about half of our $400,000 goal—but we need a huge surge in reader support to close the remaining gap. Whether you've given before or this is your first time, your contribution right now matters.

Managing an independent, nonprofit newsroom is staggeringly hard. There’s no cushion in our budget—no backup revenue, no corporate safety net. We can’t afford to fall short, and we can’t rely on corporations or deep-pocketed interests to fund the fierce, investigative journalism Mother Jones exists to do. That’s why we need you right now. Please chip in to help close the gap.

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