Voter confidence in the War on Terror is at the highest level ever recorded since Rasmussen Reports began regular tracking in January 2004. Fifty-four percent (54%) of American voters now think the
United States and its allies are winning the war. The previous high-water mark for optimism–52%–was reached a handful of times in September and October 2004.
Optimism about the situation in
Iraq is also at an all-time high. Forty-eight percent (48%) now expect the situation in that troubled country to get better over the next six months. Only 17% expect things to get worse. In addition to being the most optimistic assessment ever recorded, these numbers reflect a remarkable turnaround over the past year. Last August, just 27% thought things were going to get better while 47% were pessimistic.
Looking longer term, voters are evenly divided as to whether history will judge the mission in
Iraq as a success or failure. Thirty-eight percent (38%) offer an optimistic assessment while 41% say the opposite. Seventy-three percent (73%) of Republicans think history will look kindly on the effort in
Iraq while 63% of Democrats disagree. Unaffiliated voters are divided on the question.
These numbers also reflect an amazing turnaround over the past year. In August a year ago, 57% thought history would judge the U.S. mission in
Iraq to be a failure. At that time, just 29% thought it would be viewed a success.
President Bush isn’t getting any credit from the changing political environment. Just 30% rate President George W. Bush’s handling of the situation in
Iraq as good or excellent while 47% say he has been doing a poor job.
Voters remain divided on whether or not the country is safer today than it was before September 11, 2001. While 41% of voters believe it is safer today, 40% disagree.
As always, there are substantial gender and partisan differences on all questions dealing with
Iraq and the War on Terror.
While 46% of women say the
U.S. is winning the war, 62% of men agree. Nearly a quarter of women (24%) think the terrorists are winning, while just 14% of men agree.
On a partisan basis, 82% of Republican voters say
America is winning the War on Terror, just 34% of Democrats agree.
Fifty-one percent (51%) of unaffiliated voters say the
U.S. and its allies are winning.