McCain's Support for Continuing Iraq Occupation is the 'Fringe' Position, Not Clinton's

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Nov. 19, 2007

Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain harshly criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton on the war in Iraq and U.S. policy toward Iran, and said she was caving in on both issues to "fringe" elements in her party.

In a speech Sunday night to about 150 students at Franklin Pierce College, McCain accused the Democratic front-runner of yielding to anti-war sentiment by backing a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq and ignoring signs that the military troop surge is working.

"Sen. Clinton told Gen. Petraeus that his confidence in his new strategy and in the ability of the troops he has the honor to command required 'a willing suspension of disbelief," McCain said, referencing a September exchange between Clinton and Petraeus.

"Now, it becomes clear that Gen. Petraeus was right. For the time being, Sen. Clinton has suspended her belief in the abundant evidence of success as her rivals and the fringe of her party pull her toward a position she knows is irresponsible."

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=3885579&page=1


Most Americans Deem Iraq Withdrawal Responsible
November 18, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in the United States want the coalition effort to come to an end, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 55 per cent of respondents think the most responsible thing the U.S. can do is find a way to withdraw most of its troops from Iraq by the beginning of 2009.

Conversely, 40 per cent believe the most responsible thing the U.S. can do is to remain in Iraq until the situation in the country is stable.


Polling Data

When it comes to the war in Iraq, which of the following statements comes closer to your point of view?

The most responsible thing we can do is find a way to withdraw most of our troops from Iraq by the beginning of 2009
55%

The most responsible thing we can do is to remain in Iraq until the situation in the country is stable
40%

Unsure
5%

Source: Hart/McInturff / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,509 American adults, conducted from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5, 2007. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/29044/most_americans_deem_iraq_withdrawal_responsible