The Ripple Effect

The only non-security issue where the GOP comes close is immigration, where the split is 39 to 37 in favor of the Democrats.

The dissention within the Republicans' own ranks suggests that the GOP could have a hard time holding their base come November. For instance, while 15 percent of Democrats trust the Republicans more than they do their own party to handle terrorism, 12 percent of Republicans trust the Democrats more on the economy than they do the GOP; 12 percent trust the Democrats more on gas prices; 17 percent trust them more on federal spending and the deficit; 19 percent trust them more on health care, and 26 percent have more faith in the Democrats when it comes to stem-cell research.

Overall, 54 percent of Americans believe Washington politicians have become more partisan and divisive in recent years and a plurality—23 percent—blame the GOP, 13 percent blame the Democrats and 13 percent blame both parties equally. Still, only 21 percent of Republicans say their party is moving too far right, while 29 percent of Democrats believe their party is moving too far left. But 51 percent of independents say the Republicans have moved too far right versus 41 percent who say the Democrats have moved too far left.

Clearly, Iraq remains a drag on the president and his party; 58 percent of Americans say the United States is losing ground in its efforts to establish stability and democracy there, up from 49 percent last September. (Only 31 percent believes the United States is making progress, down from 40 percent last year.) Fifty-four percent of Americans say they are "not too confident" (24 percent) or "not at all confident" (30 percent) that the United States will establish a democratic form of government in Iraq "over the long term." Only 11 percent are "very confident" and 32 percent are "somewhat confident."

When it comes to the issues that will impact their vote for Congress on Nov. 7, 22 percent of registered voters put Iraq first, 18 percent say the economy and 15 percent say terrorism, followed by health care (14 percent), gas and oil prices (12 percent) and immigration (9 percent).

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