NW Poll: Wait for general’s report

Of NW Voters
53% Wait for General Petraeus Report next month
42% Begin removing troops now

From Moore Information Poll

In a recent poll of likely voters in Oregon and Washington, we explored how voters would like to see the next steps of the war in Iraq handled, given the upcoming progress report expected from General David Petraeus. Today, a narrow majority of voters (53%) in both Northwest states would prefer to wait for the general’s report next month before making any decisions on the number of troops we keep in Iraq, while 42% say we should start taking steps to remove our troops from Iraq now. The remaining 5% are undecided.

The General’s Report on Iraq “As you may know, our commanding general in Iraq is scheduled to give a report on the progress of the war next month. In your opinion should we wait for the general’s report before making any decisions on the number of troops we keep in Iraq or should we start taking steps to remove our troops from Iraq now?”

There is no difference in attitudes when comparing results in Oregon and Washington. In Oregon, 52% of voters would like to wait for the general’s report before making any decisions about the number of troops we need in Iraq, while 43% of Oregonians would like to take steps to remove troops from Iraq now. In Washington, results are statistically identical (54% would like to wait for report and 41% would start taking steps to remove troops from Iraq now).

As has been the case historically, there are clear divisions along party lines when it comes to Iraq. Among Republicans, it is widely preferred to wait for the general’s report (80-14%), and Independents (55-39%) would also like to wait for the general’s report before making any decisions about troops. At the same time, among Democrats, fully 68% prefer to make immediate steps to remove troops, while just 28% would like to wait for the report. There are also differences by gender and age, with women and voters age 18-34 narrowly in favor of taking immediate steps to remove troops from Iraq. At the same time, majorities of men and voters age 35 and older would prefer to wait and see the general’s report before making any decisions about troops.