The elections seem definitely to have helped the Republicans.
This is from Gallup.
In reversals from a month ago, majorities said that going to war in Iraq was not a mistake, that things are going well there and that it's likely democracy will be established in Iraq. (Related item: Poll results)
Bush's approval rating of 57% was his highest since he reached 59% in January 2004. Strategists from both parties attributed the rise to timing.
The Iraq numbers were striking in their consistency. Six in 10 people said the elections there went better than they expected. In other measures:
- 55% said the United States did not make a mistake sending troops to Iraq, up from 47% last month.
- 53% said things are going very or moderately well in Iraq, compared with 40% last month.
- 64% said it is very or somewhat likely a democratic form of government will be established in Iraq, up from 47% last month.
- 10% said more U.S. troops are needed in Iraq, down from 24% who said that before the elections.
- 50% said they approved of how Bush is handling Iraq, up from 42% last month; 48% said they disapproved, down from 56% last month.
In other words, the media's cheerleading for the Administration's Iraq policy since the election has paid off handsomely for the president. It will be interesting to see how long this lasts. But here's the part that bothers me. Howard Dean, you have your work cut out for you.
The poll suggests a positive environment for Bush's party. Republicans received a 56% favorable rating, compared with 46% for Democrats -- a 10-point advantage, up from 6 points in September. And 55% said Bush's policies would move the country in the right direction -- up from 51% last month.
When the Republican Party is enjoying a 10 point lead over the Dems, you know things are not going well.
What all of this suggests is that it is not enough for us sit back and wait for Iraq to come crashing down on the Republicans. The American people desparately want solutions to the problems America is faced with. It isn't enough for the Dems to stand around and criticize the Republicans for the next four years. We need to serious develop our ideas and to do it in ways make America trust us.