Homeland Security

Americans think victory in Iraq is more likely with John McCain as president, while they believe Barack Obama will withdraw troops during his first term, according to a new Rasmussen poll.

According to Rasmussen, 49 percent of those polled said the U.S. is "at least somewhat likely" to win the war in Iraq if McCain is elected president. 20 percent said victory is somewhat likely if Obama is elected.

In the same poll, 59 percent say it is at least somewhat likely "virtually all combat troops" will come home during Obama's first term as president. 43 percent say combat troops will come home in McCain's first term.

When asked to contrast the two goals, voters narrowly chose withdrawal: 52 percent said withdrawing troops in the next four years is more important than winning the war.

Obama says he will withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq within the first 16 months of his presidency. McCain says he would not rush to withdraw troops, and that the so-called troop "surge," which McCain supported in early 2007, is working.

Rasmussen surveyed 1,200 people via phone for the poll.

John McCain today said he would withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of his first term as president.

Speaking in Columbus, Ohio, McCain laid out an agenda for accomplishments by the end of his first term. Also among them were: the Taliban's resurgence reduced with Pakistan's help; discontinuation of nuclear programs in Russia, China, and North Korea;

John McCain told the Associated Press, in his opening remarks at an AP meeting today, that he supports legislation to prevent journalists from being forced to reveal confidential sources.

McCain outlined both pros and cons to the bill: the media has publicized sensitive security information, McCain said, but it also "revealed the disgrace of Abu Ghraib"--a disgrace that, McCain said today, made it harder to protect America.

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) has noted, however, that the bill does not offer absolute protection for journalists and their sources. Since the bill was introduced by Sens. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) in the 109th Congress, SPJ says, several concessions have been made.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) released its own 3 a.m. web ad today. U.S. intelligence officers cannot monitor phone conversations between suspected terrorists, the NRCC says, "because the Democrat Majority refuses to answer the call to protect the American people."