By Alabama Public Radio
Tuscaloosa AL – Alabamians are nearly evenly split on President Bush's decision to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq, according to a new survey. The survey conducted by the Montgomery-based Capital Survey Research Center during the three days that followed Bush's Jan. 10 speech to announce the increase, which is intended to combat rising violence. The plan also calls for new additional funding for economic aid and reconstruction projects in Iraq. The plan was met with heavy criticism in Congress. Following, his announcement of the increase, the poll showed that 42.8 percent of respondants said Bush had "adequately justified" his strategy. 42.6 percent said he failed to do so. The survey also showed a majority of people are unhappy with Bush's handling of the war, some of them also are willing to give the new strategy a chance to work. Before the Jan. 10th speech, a separate poll showed 55.5 percent of Alabamians disapproved of Bush's handling of the war. After the speech, the latest poll sought opinion about the surge policy. 47.9 percent approved and 47.1 percent disapproved. The newest survey also shows 20 percent of respondents described themselves as "strongly" approving of the surge. On the opposite end, 35 percent said they "strongly oppose" it. Among those who identified themselves as Democrats, 76 percent oppose the surge. Among Republicans, 78 percent are supportive. Among blacks respondants, 86 percent are opposed, 76 percent of them strongly. Among whites, 57 percent approve, 25 percent of them strongly. The Capital Survey Research Center is the polling arm of the Alabama Education Association. It contacted 371 registered voters for the survey, which had a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points.