Iraq deaths take toll on voters, Bush's popularity in heartland

[Unity]

Iraq deaths take toll on voters, Bush's popularity in heartland
By Ron Fournier, Associated Press, 11/13/2003 01:28

BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (AP) John Webb wears an 82nd Airborne Division cap atop his shock of gray hair and a grimace across his craggy face every pleat and pucker a memory from World War II.

He's gnawing a cigar, spitting bits of tobacco with each raw, angry word.

''It was a mistake to get into Iraq. It's a mistake not to get out. Got that? Mistake! Mistake! Mistake!'' the Republican says, jabbing the air with his smoking spear. ''You know what I'd like to tell the president? Get out! Get going! Get gone! Now.''

Ranting outside American Legion Post 261, some 250 miles from the polls and politics of Washington, Webb stands testament to a sentiment that could threaten President Bush's re-election hopes. Death in Iraq is taking its toll politically as local media coverage of each body bag and burial drives home the costs of war.

More than 390 soldiers from 46 states, the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories have died in Iraq since the war began March 20. All 16 of the most critical political states those Bush won or lost by 5 percentage points or less have suffered fatalities. Five battleground states Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Missouri and Pennsylvania have lost 10 or more soldiers.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/317/nation/Iraq_deaths_take_toll_on_voter:.shtml

[jpgray]

1. Great article

Thanks for posting it. More proof that we are not wholly "sheeple"--if we get the information, most of us will respond intelligently and with reason.

[Unity]

3. At least some are starting to get it. Hopefully, it's indicative...

that maybe there'll be more.

[tedoll78]

2. Wow.

Women truly are the more intelligent gender!

[flamingyouth]

4. Too bad it took the deaths of so many for people to awaken

to the wholesale destruction of America by the BFEE.

[bluestateguy]

5. As I said before...

Only the deaths of all-American boys seem to shake the consciences of these people. Unfortunately, the slaughter of thousands of Iraqi civilians never will appear on these folks' radar screens. If the anti-war movement wants to represent a majority of the American people they will have to accept this cold hard fact.