With public opinion about the Iraq war at an all-time low, there is no question that the war may well decide which party will win big during the midterm elections. Republicans, as much as they try to distance themselves from a failed President, have themselves failed to demand an exit strategy. Yet the American people want an exit, and they want an end to this war. Via
Zogby, Kevin Zeese describes how mobilizing anti-war voters can mean big Democratic gains in 2006:
A new national poll shows that a near majority of voters either strongly or somewhat agree with a pledge not to vote for pro-war candidates. This makes the antiwar movement's potential impact on elections larger than pro-gun, anti-abortion, or anti-gay marriage voters. Politicians will have to pay heed to this new political force. [...]
The national poll found that 45.9% of US voters agree - 20.1% strongly agree and 25.8% somewhat agree. Among Democrats 67.1% agreed - 33.3% strongly, 59.2% of Independents - 25.3% strongly and even 25.7% of Republicans agreed - 5.5% strongly. The poll was conducted by ICR Survey Research of Media, Pa., which also polls for ABC News, The Washington Post and many corporations and research organizations.
This poll demonstrates that antiwar voters are significant enough in size to affect the outcome of elections - if they become organized. Just like pro-gun groups have organized, pro-choice and pro-life groups have organized - now the antiwar constituency has been identified and the peace movement is ready to organize them. This will ensure that the antiwar movement will no longer be one that can be ignored.
The President gave the Democrats a gift in stating that troops will remain in Iraq beyond his term. Democrats should join together and call for the gradual withdraw of U.S. troops, and a new strategy for stabilizing Iraq--politically and economically. As Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) and so many other have noted, we cannot win the Iraq War militarily anymore. Republicans can yell "traitor" until they are blue in the face--the American public, and especially those all-important swing voters--are not on their side.
Zogby The article goes on to note an organization called Voters For Peace that has taken the lead in grassroots organizing of pro-peace voters. As Zogby Zeese recognizes, an anti-war campaign will appeal to the vast majority of independents (not to mention rallying the Democratic base). If those swing voters vote for anti-war candidates (as the poll suggests they would) that can lead to a Democratic majority in Congress. The issue is on our side. We should refine our Iraq message and present it to those voters who are desperate for a change of course in Iraq. Add to that a coordinated effort to get out the anti-war vote, and our chances for gaining majority status look very, very good.
Update: Thanks to a reader for tipping me off that the article was not written by Zogby, it was republished on his site. Sorry for the error!
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