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Like father, like son - Bush support starts to unravel over Iraq
Bush losing support for re-election
August 24, 2003
A growing number of Americans don't want to see US President George W Bush re-elected, and fear US troops are being drawn into a long, costly occupation of Iraq, according to a Newsweek poll.
For the first time the poll has found that more registered voters - 49 per cent - would not want Bush to return for a second term in office if the elections were now, than those - 44 per cent - who would.
Only 23 per cent said terrorism and homeland security would be the most important issues for them in the October 2004 election, compared with 48 per cent who said deciding factors for them would be the economy and jobs.
Meanwhile, 69 per cent are now convinced the United States will become bogged down in Iraq, without achieving ostensible goals in getting the country back on its feet.
Some 40 per cent of them are now "very concerned" US troops will be there for the long haul.
A majority also fears that US forces will be overextended in the event of a security threat elsewhere, according to the poll in the latest edition of Newsweek - 29 per cent very concerned and 30 per cent somewhat concerned.
Americans also think that reconstruction costs in Iraq are too high at $US1 billion ($A1.53 billion) per week - 66 per cent said they do not support such spending, compared with 34 per cent who said they support current spending levels.
And 53 per cent said they would oppose an increase to the figure being spent, with only seven per cent not opposed to an increase.
Almost half of people polled - 47 per cent - said they were very concerned that maintaining troops in Iraq is too expensive and will cause a higher budget deficit, seriously damaging the US economy.
The survey was taken between August 21 and 22 on some 1,011 adults aged 18 and above. The poll has a plus or minus three per cent error margin.
But did the right wing warmongers listen to us? Nah
And doesn't Clinton start to look better and better and smarter and smarter? Its the economy stupid!
You people should really listen to old horsie.
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