Americans Say Afghanistan, not Iraq, Should be Priority

July 30, 2008 9:53 AM | | Comments (0)

A key point in the campaign stands that Barack Obama and John McCain have taken on what U.S. strategy should be in dealing with Iraq and Afghanistan is the question of which country should be the U.S. priority in the battles to put down insurgencies and fight terrorism. Part of Obama's argument for a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq is that Afghanistan represents the greatest threat. McCain has insisted that withdrawal from Iraq must be determined by events on the ground and that victory there is a necessary first step towards success in Afghanistan.

Now the USA Today/Gallup poll weighs in on the question, and similarly to what Rasmussen Reports found in a national poll in mid-July and in its state-by-state polls, a plurality of Americans believe the war in Afghanistan is more important than the one in Iraq by a 44 percent to 38 percent margin. Ten percent say "both equally" and 8 percent have no opinion.

There are obvious partisan differences. Republicans still say Iraq should be the primary front by 47 percent to 31 percent, Democrats say Afghanistan by 53 percent to 31 percent, and independents side with the Democrats by 45 percent to 38 percent. Moreover, despite the succession of polls that say it was a mistake for the U.S. to invade Iraq, support remains high for the decision to go to war in Afghanistan, which was made in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Asked if going into Afghanistan was a mistake, Americans said no by a 68 percent to 28 percent margin. Majorities in all voter blocs agreed. In addition, more than half of Americans would support sending additional troops to Afghanistan and diverting troops from Iraq to Afghanistan.

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Categories: Gallup, Presidential

Tags: Obama McCain Iraq Afghanistan

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