Rasmussen Reports reports (I meant that) an interesting result of the first presidential debate:
57% of voters believe that finishing the mission is more important than getting the troops home as soon as possible. That’s up from 52% before the debate.
Kerry may have succeeded in persuading many of his supporters that finishing the mission in Iraq, or “winning,” is more important withdrawing early, and that he shares President Bush’s determination to do so.
But insofar as voters think that this is important, it won’t help Kerry, for Rasmussen also finds the following:
As for the candidates, 71% of voters believe that finishing the mission in Iraq is more important to George W. Bush than getting U.S. soldiers home as soon as possible. That’s up from 66% before the debate.
As for Senator Kerry, 25% now think his top priority is finishing the mission. That’s up from 18% before the debate. Still, 57% say that Kerry’s top priority is getting the troops home. That’s down from 64% before the debate.
Perhaps it would help if there was a clear definition as to EXACTLY what the “mission” is. Waging a war against a concept (terrorism) is something unwinnable in my opinion.
–Cobra