Does Bush have more running room with Americans on Iraq than the Washington media suggest in its news coverage? Recent polls hint he may if it’s part of a comprehensive new strategy to improve things on the ground in Iraq. The other day Gallup's Frank Newport discussed some interesting numbers with CNBC’s Larry Kudlow. A December 6-10, 2006 Gallup poll found that 76 percent of Republicans believe the U.S. will or can win in Iraq. It brokedown this way:

Republicans

US Win War -- 51%

Can Win But Won't -- 25%

Cannot Win -- 17%

Sure Republicans may believe Iraq isn’t a lost cause and is still “winnable,” but what about other Americans? Last month (November 17-19), a CNN poll asked 1,025 adults nationwide:

“Do you think the United States CAN win or CANNOT win the war in Iraq?"

Can win -- 54 percent

Cannot win – 43 percent

"Do you think the United States WILL win or WILL NOT win the war in Iraq?"

Will win -- 40 percent

Will not – 56 percent

There’s no doubt support for the Iraq War has plummeted, but these numbers suggest Americans haven’t totally given up on Iraq. The polling does, however, show that Americans are quite skeptical of the leadership in Washington to turn things around in Iraq -- and with good reason.