LaHood 'not bailing' on Bush and Iraq

by Jim Tankersley

Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) isn’t just sticking around in Congress – he’s also sticking with President Bush on the Iraq war, at least until September.

LaHood announced today he’ll run for re-election and not formally apply for the presidency at Bradley University. In an interview, he said he told Bush on the phone last week that he’ll follow through on his pledge to wait for a September progress report from the American commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, before voting to change course in the war.

Bush called last week, LaHood said, to thank the congressman for supporting his now-dead-in-the-Senate immigration overhaul. Then the conversation turned to Iraq.

“He asked me to hang in there with him,” LaHood said. “I am going to hang in there with him…. I’m not bailing on him.”

LaHood said Bush assured him he is pressuring the Iraqi government daily to make progress toward stability, and that he believes he wasn’t the only congressional Republican to field a call from Bush last week.

“Anytime you get a call from the president, it’s a signal that they’re trying to reach out to us,” he said. “They’re testing temperatures.”

Shortly after LaHood spoke with the Tribune, House Democrats used a new Gallup poll to slam congressional Republicans on Iraq. Read on for the Dems' press release:

To: Reporters

From: House Democratic Caucus Communications Office

Re: How Long Can House Republicans Wait?

A new Gallup poll released today shows the President's approval rating continuing to fall and support for the war in Iraq at an all time low. Only 29% of the American people approve of the President's job performance, a new low for Bush. Additionally, more than seven in ten Americans support removing virtually all American troops from Iraq by April. The poll also found that a record number of Americans - 62% -- believe the Untied States made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq.

The poll comes on an awkward day for Bush allies in Congress: today marks the six month anniversary of the President's decision to escalate the war in Iraq and this morning's news was dominated by reports indicating the Iraqi government has failed to meet ANY of the benchmarks for political and economic success.

As Congress prepares to vote on measures regarding the country's involvement in Iraq, Americans are calling for a new direction and a new strategy in Iraq, not new soundbites from a White House that insists on staying the course. Yet rubberstamp House Republicans continue to back the President's failed strategy and call for more troops, more time and more of the same. How long can House Republicans continue to wait before demanding change in Iraq? With reports showing an absence of progress on the ground in Iraq and political pressure mounting at home, can House Republicans continue to side with an unpopular President and support the status quo?

Highlights from the Gallup poll are below.

Bush Hits News Low. According to the latest Gallup Poll, President Bush's approval rating has dropped to 29%, his lowest rating in the Gallup Poll, and a drop of nine points in three months. Two-thirds of the country -- 66% -- disapprove of the way President Bush has handled his job. [USA Today, 7/10/07]

Nation Favors Redeployment from Iraq. According to the USA Today story regarding the latest Gallup Poll, "More than seven in ten favor removing nearly all U.S. troops from Iraq by April." [USA Today, 7/10/07]

Americans Say the Surge isn't Working, War was a Mistake. According to the USA Today story on the latest Gallup Poll only one in five Americans say the increase in U.S. forces in Iraq since January has made the situation there better. Half say it hasn't made a difference. 62% say the United States made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq, the first time that number has topped 60%. [USA Today, 7/10/07]

Two-Thirds Oppose Libby Decision. According to the Gallup Poll, 66% of Americans oppose President Bush's intervention in the Scooter Libby case. [USA Today, 7/10/07]

Americans Pessimistic on the Economy. According to the latest Gallup poll, six in ten Americans say the economy is worse than it was five years ago, and the same number think that economic conditions are getting worse. [USA Today, 7/10/07]