by Mark Silva
They call Ohio a bellwether state for a reason: It has backed every president’s election since 1960.
And in Ohio today, voters are sharply divided over the war in Iraq, with a slim majority calling the U.S.-led invasion a mistake and slightly more saying the war is not going well today.
The war will likely be a pivotal issue of the 2008 election.
Today, about one year out, this is what Ohio looks like:
Fifty-three percent of the registered Ohio voters surveyed say the war is not going well – either “not too well’’ or “not at all well’’ – according to the Ohio Poll, conducted by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. The latest survey, released today, was conducted Oct. 19-Oct. 31.
Forty-six percent say the U.S. military effort is going fairly well or very well.
And voters are nearly evenly split over the original decision to go to war: 51 percent calling it the wrong decision, 47 percent calling it the right decision.
Democrats and Republicans, of course, are divided over all this – with 75 percent of Democrats viewing the war effort dimly and just 30 percent of Republicans sharing that assessment.
Sounds like a good place to fight another tough election battle. Ohio has a record to keep in this contest. For more, see the entire poll.
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Comments
You can always count on the Democrats in a poll like this to be on the dismal side. The cure for the Democrats' downer attitude? Why, a Demo in the White House, of course, and then all will be just fine regardless of where the troops are. And the media then will find all sorts of positive articles to write about progress in Iraq, the ones they are ignoring now.
Posted by: Normandy | November 15, 2007 11:09 AM
I'm surprised this many people anywhere still support Bush's disastrous war. It was a mistake to go in to Iraq in the first place--the war was based on the desire of the neocons to restructured the Middle East--and look where that's gotten us; nearly 4,000 service people dead and countless Iraqis. Meanwhile, the real problem resides in the very dangerous country of Pakistan. George W. Bush--Worst President Ever!
Posted by: judith | November 15, 2007 11:28 AM
"POLLS SMOLLS"
IT WAS MISSION ACCOMPLISH FOUR YEARS AGO.
SO WE ALL GAVE IT A C.
WHAT POLL IS THERE FOR HOW THE 4 YEAR OCCUPATION HAS GONE? WHERE IS THE POLL REGARDING THE FILLIBUSTERS BY THIS CONGRESS. WHERE ARE THE POLLS REGARDING THE POSSIBLE IMPEACHMENT OF DICK CHENEY? WHERE ARE THE POLLS REFLECTING THE NO NEWS MEDIA, NEWSPAPERS, RADIO, AND TELEVISION?
WHERE IS THE POLL THAT WILL SEND MY AMERICAN SON, DAUGHTER, FATHER, MOTHER, AND NEIGHBOR HOME FROM THE CIVIL WAR. THE CIVIL WAR IN IRAQ BETWEEN THEMSELVES.
SO POLLS SMOLLS!
Posted by: Roger Morris | November 15, 2007 12:22 PM
Normandy,
I love how you claim there is good news not being reported from Iraq...and you fail to report this good news! You're just following the Republic playbook though: Repeat an absurd statement many times and eventually it becomes the truth.
Posted by: jethro | November 15, 2007 12:33 PM
I am not sure if this information is all that shocking to anyone, regardless of which side of the aisle you choose to sit. There are so many reasons for the war in Iraq, at least theories anyway...such as W just wanting to dispose of Saddam because of the uncovered attempt on Bush Sr.
The strength in an argument does not lie with your own perspective, but from understanding the perspective of the opposition. Until we can all achieve a better understanding of the other side of the aisle or even the aisle, and keep our focus where it needs to be...for the benefit of the American people and a peaceful world, we are just destined to repeat this unproductive cycle.
I hope the majority of the American people wake up, get informed and complete their civic duty to express their opinion when it truly matters...by casting their vote.
Until that happens, it will continue to look dismal for all of us, and if I reported that my cousin said he felt and was told by Iraqis that he truly made a positive difference in the life of the Iraqi people on this site...would you believe me and would it change your perspective? He did, and I choose to believe him.
Posted by: Kevin | November 16, 2007 8:37 AM