by Mark Silva
Voters may be looking for a new course for the war in Iraq, but they are not voicing overwhelming optimism -- or much difference, really -- in the ability of the leading presidential candidates to deliver that course.
Just over half of those surveyed in the latest Gallup Poll say that have “a great deal or fair amount’’ of confidence in any of the leading contenders “to recommend the right thing’’ for Iraq.
Two of the Republican candidates for president – former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain – scored 55 percent in this survey of 1,011 American adults.
And three of the Democratic candidates scored close or nearly as well: Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois at 54 percent, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York at 51 and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina at 50. Two other Republicans scored less well: former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee at 39 percent and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 37.
“This suggests that, despite public dissatisfaction with the war, it is not necessarily a winning issue for Democratic candidates,’’ Gallup analysts Jeffrey Jones and Joseph Carroll say of the results of the July 23-26 survey.
Yet Republicans Giuliani and McCain both stood out in Gallup’s survey on a question of Americans placing a great deal or fair amount of conficdence in them making the right choices in handling terrorism. And not only did Republicans express strong confidence in Giuliani and McCain on this front – a majority of Democrats surveyed also voiced confidence in them.
“This finding suggests that national security issues – so important in the winning presidential campaign of George W. Bush in 2004 – could still be a positive factor for the Republican nominee this year,’’ the Gallup analysts report.
Giuliani, who attracts strong public confidence on a few fronts, at a town hall-styled appearance in New Hampshire:
Democrats Clinton and Obama both stood out in the survey’s question of confidence in the candidates’ ability to make the right choices about the economy or health care. Yet Giuliani also found similar confidence in his credentials on this front.
Perhaps as a measure of Giuliani’s reputation in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the self-styled “nation’s mayor’’ scored 69 percent on the question of making the right choices in handling terrorism, with McCain scoring 66 percent.
The Democrats drew fewer signs of confidence in the handling of terrorism, Clinton 55, Obama 53 and Edwards 48. And the other two Republicans trailed them, Thompson 42, Romney 38.
The pollsters asked Americans about their confidence – “a great deal, a fair amount, only a little or almost no confidence’’ – in the prospect for seven leading presidential contenders “to recommend the right thing’’ on four fronts: The war in Iraq, the economy, terrorism and health care.
On Health care, perhaps as a reflection of her own involvement in the issue as First Lady during President Bill Clinton’s first term, Clinton drew a great deal or fair amount of confidence on health care among 65 percent of those surveyed.
Obama followed closely behind Clinton, at 61 percent, Edwards followed at 54, and then the Republicans rolled in at 52 for Giuliania, 45 for McCain, 36 Romney and 35 Thompson.
On the economy, Obama and Clinton virtually tied with 62 and 61 percent confidence in their ability to make the right choices and Guiliani ranked right alongside them at 60 percent.
McCain drew 53 percent on this question, Edwards 51, and again Romney and Thompson trailed at 40 and 39.
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Comments
Democrats need to stop being scared and repeat over and over that 9/11 happened on a Republican's watch. It was a Republican who ignored all the warnings before 9/11. It was as Republican who held zero meetings on terrorism before 9/11. It was a Republican who froze for 7 minutes on 9/11 after being told the country is under attack. Democrats have the facts on their side, they should not be afraid to state them over and over again. Rebublicans cannot be trusted to handle anything related to terrorism
Posted by: Paul | July 31, 2007 1:07 PM
Anyone who has confidence in Rudy Gigoliani to fight the so-called "War on Terror" is delusional.
1) Rudy put his emergency command and control center in the World Trade Center ignoring the people who told him not to do so because it had been the target of a terror attack already in 93.....thus the reason Rudy was walking the streets of Manhatten on 9/11 instead of being in his emergency command and control center
2) Rudy has Zero foreign policy experiance but he did have a chance to sit in with the Iraq Study Group; unforunately, Rudy decided that he would rather make the big bucks on the 9/11 speaking circuit rather than get some first hand foreign policy experiance.
....there's so much crap on Rudy, ppppplease nominate him, Wingnuts!
Posted by: John E | July 31, 2007 1:14 PM
Rebublicans cannot be trusted to handle anything related to terrorism
Posted by: Paul | July 31, 2007 1:07 PM
Except to tell you whos fault it is and to make it worse.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 31, 2007 1:24 PM
I'll take Paul's dead-on points a step further.
Republicans controlled the entire US government, had popular support for a war, an unlimited budget to spend, and the greatest military in history at their disposal, yet managed to screw up the Iraq war in a way that even its harshest critics did not foresee.
Only a mindless partisan would disagree with the premise that Republicans are utterly incompetent to handle our national defense. Since about one-quarter the country consists of mindless Republican partisans, though, these drunken buffoons are given a spot on the national ballot. Democrats should take on this issue directly, forcefully, and relentlessly.
Posted by: a blinkin | July 31, 2007 1:32 PM
Paul, Clinton watched for 8 years and did nothing - no response to the first trade tower attack,the attack on the USS Cole, no grabbing for bin Laden when offered, shall I go on? The fact of the matter is that no one paid a great deal of attention to terrorism from either party. Bush responded because he was forced to. He did to Saddam what CLinton said his administration would have done under the same circumstances. If all you can do is play partisan politics on facts which you know you have twisted (I presume 7 minutes deals with the time he spent in the school after being notified of the attacks), then you are someone who is overjoyed in the thoughts of having 9/11 happen again, because your main candidates are going to one of two things. If what you want (pull out), many more people will die, first in Iraq and then here. If they do not and stay in Iraq - which I figure any president will because they will have no choice - they will have used you.
Posted by: JEM | July 31, 2007 1:32 PM
Haven't you heard, the war on terrorism has nothing to do with Iraq? As an aside, John "I served in Viet Nam" Kerry wanted to treat the WOT as a police action.
Posted by: whatnow | July 31, 2007 1:53 PM
I see you won't let the absence of facts get in the way of your tired talking points, JEM. Richard Clarke was in critical anti-terrorism roles in both adminisrations, and his account of who focused on terrorism and when differs markedly from yours. Do you have personal knowledge that differs from Clarke's, or are you just spouting Faux News talking points, I ask rhetorically?
As for your predictions for the future, you nitwits have predicted nothing about terrorism, war, etc. with accuracy, and so lack any credibility to be heard now. Kick back and have a double martini. That's all you Republicants are good for.
Posted by: a blinkin | July 31, 2007 2:02 PM
Funny that John E would talk about others being delusional when he is King Delusional.
Anyway, all the evil tactics being employed by the Loony Left and their puppets the Democcratic Party are showing to be for naught. The GOP will win the White House and retake Congress.
Heavens, headline today is consumer confidence at a 6-year high! Folks must really be so happy with their minimum wage jobs at Wal Mart, huh, Lefties?
Posted by: John D | July 31, 2007 2:08 PM
Posted by whatnow July 31, 2007 1:53 PM
You forgot to mention that John Kerry at least showed up for Nam, that's more than our current draftdodging Republican Prez and Veep ever did.
Posted by: John E | July 31, 2007 2:41 PM
Crossfire transcript: Sen. John McCain calls for resolve in Yugoslavia
Aired April 1, 1999
NOVAK: Do you think that war can be won without sending in ground troops?
MCCAIN: I am very skeptical because all three of us, being students of history, know that the last time, I think, that air power won was when Zeus used to have an unlimited supply of thunderbolts.
NOVAK: I think the atom bomb on Japan might have...
MCCAIN: True, true
------
I couldn't pass it up. It was just too funny.
Posted by: AR | July 31, 2007 3:31 PM
Paul and John E don't get it the Dems are just repeating over and over again they want defeat and surrender is not making them appealing. But, they are in the car and it is going over the cliff it's too late --that's what they want defeat to please the leftist wackos. Of course Gallup finds the American people don't trust the Dems with our security--they are now worse than George McGovern. Who would trust him with a real war with terrorists? Ditto the doveish Dem presidential candidates. Rudy, Fred and Mitt have more security credentials than Hil and Barry or would you rather have Dennis Kucinich now there's a tough guy--yeh right. 08 will be different and the GOP will carry the day because they will make America victorious with strong armed forces and a desire to win. Not the pessimistic Dem whiners who own defeat-- of course Barry could lecture as he does for hours now that scares AlQuaeda or how about John Edwards he thinks the terrrorists are bumper stickers! Elected in 06 to govern you've blown it Dems. Jerry White, Springfield, Il
Posted by: Jerry White | July 31, 2007 3:42 PM
"AUGMENTATION"
Democrats do not fear an Augmentation of a war. Heck that's a no brainer. Get a New BOOBIE or go back to the old BOOBIE you had.
My son fights for this country, not a Republican or just a Democrat. Our Kids are dying in the streets of Baghdad for their so called "Commander Guy." Not the Republicans or the Democrats. They all wear the same uniform lets not forget. Mothers don't have children in name of Democrats or Republicans. Well maybe Mary Cheney, but who knows if a "Referral" hasn't already been issued.
So to think like that, you are have separated yourself from them, and that is not fair.
So all in all in the blog world. Bloggers are not out fighting or standing up to George Bush's "EVIL DOERS" Our kids are. No manly as you thought huh. My kid is fighting for me. Big man, Big Woman.
Let it go, don't vote to send my son to fight in this "GANGS" Bush Administration day, you go, you go over there and preach that BS on behalf of a Democrat or a Republican. Ask John McCain to go shopping with you for dates or poppyseeds.
Just Rhetoric.
Posted by: Roger Morris | July 31, 2007 4:00 PM
Paul and John E don't get it the Dems are just repeating over and over again they want defeat and surrender is not making them appealing.
Posted by: Jerry White | July 31, 2007 3:42 PM
What toadstool do you live under? Your small mind says that if you don't agree that Iraq was the right way to go, that it means the dems want defeat. Nice leap there whacko. Why don't you tell that to all the democrats that serve in the military you twit. It must be nice to live in your world. Have people tell you what to think and say. Tell me there tex, if you don't like vanilla, does that mean you have to like chocolate. Grow up big boy.....come out and play with the grown-ups and put down your shovel and bucket.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 1, 2007 7:41 AM
Paul and John E don't get it the Dems are just repeating over and over again they want defeat and surrender is not making them appealing.
Posted by: Jerry White | July 31, 2007 3:42 PM
What toadstool do you live under? Your small mind says that if you don't agree that Iraq was the right way to go, that it means the dems want defeat. Nice leap there whacko. Why don't you tell that to all the democrats that serve in the military you twit. It must be nice to live in your world. Have people tell you what to think and say. Tell me there tex, if you don't like vanilla, does that mean you have to like chocolate. Grow up big boy.....come out and play with the grown-ups and put down your shovel and bucket.
Posted by: bill r. | August 1, 2007 7:42 AM
Jerry White,
For the record, George McGovern was a ETO bomber pilot during WWII who saw combat over the skies of Europe. (Bomber flight crews saw some of the heaviest casualty rates of any group of veterans.)
What kind of deluded morons are you, RNC Bruce, John D., Paul O. and other assorted QWERTY Keyboard Commandos who refer to actual decorated combat veterans as cowards?
Posted by: Doug Zook | August 1, 2007 9:23 AM
The Swamp mentions a poll and Bruce doesn't respond with a "you're wrong - here's a poll you refused to print" type of response?
Maybe someone should post a poll that runs counter to this Swamp article, just to remain "fair and balanced".
Posted by: BC | August 1, 2007 10:51 AM
The GOP will win the White House and retake Congress.
Posted by: John D | July 31, 2007 2:08 PM
Delusion lives!!!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | August 1, 2007 5:41 PM