BBC World News America just announced a new poll revealing that only one-third of Americans support sending additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
Below is the press release, we'll link to the story when it's available online.
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- Harris Interactive® and BBC World News America launch new polling partnership -
ROCHESTER, N.Y. and WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 26, 2009 - The findings of the first-ever BBC World News America /The Harris Poll® show that just one-third of Americans support sending more troops to Afghanistan and just over one-quarter believe fewer troops should be committed. The results are particularly notable because President Obama has backed a 30,000 strong troop surge for Afghanistan this year.
The poll also reveals that, after the economy, health care is by far the most important issue that people want the new President to address. This is especially true among Democrats and baby boomers. These results are part of a new polling partnership launched by BBC World News America, the BBC's U.S. facing nightly newscast, and Harris Interactive® in what will be an ongoing effort to take the pulse of American public opinion.
The new poll will regularly measure Americans' perceptions, beliefs and opinions on a wide range of timely and topical subjects from politics and health care to the economy, world events and more. The first set of results from the new polling partnership will be incorporated into Moment of Change, a special series airing this week on BBC World News America, examining how the new administration will tackle some of the country's most pressing issues. America's reputation abroad is the focus of the first piece airing on tonight's program with the economy, energy, the environment and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan being examined throughout the week.
"Harris Interactive is thrilled to partner with the BBC, one of the most prestigious news organizations in the world, for this new venture," stated Humphrey Taylor - Chairman of The Harris Poll® at Harris Interactive. "It's a wonderful addition to The Harris Poll and a great chance for us to ask some very interesting questions together."
Rome Hartman, Executive Producer BBC World News America, adds: "We believe this partnership will produce insights that will help us deliver even smarter, more sophisticated and relevant coverage to our audience."