'Iraq discontent drives US polls agenda'
Afp, Washington
A new poll has confirmed that widespread dissatisfaction over Iraq could spell the end of the Republican dominance of Congress, with voters saying they expect the Democrats to cut US involvement in Iraq. The final New York Times/CBS News poll before next Tuesday's midterm elections showed a significant majority of Americans expect Democrats to reduce or end US military involvement in Iraq if they win control of Congress. By contrast, they believe President George W. Bush's Republicans would maintain or increase troop levels to try to win the war if they maintain power, the Times said in its online edition. Only 29 percent of US voters in the October 27-31 survey approved of the way Bush is managing the war, matching the nadir of his ratings in a May-June poll. Nearly 70 percent said the president did not have a plan to end the war, and 80 percent said his latest effort to rally public support amounted only to a change in rhetoric, not policy. But, in the wake of an embarrassing gaffe by former Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry, party leaders cautioned against over-optimism ahead of the November 7 midterm elections.
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