WASHINGTON -- Wide majorities of Americans across the political spectrum favor accelerating the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, according to a new Gallup/USA Today poll.
Seventy-two percent of respondents said they support Congress taking up the issue, according to the survey, which was released on Feb. 2. While self-identified Democrats were the most in favor of a quicker exit (86 percent), 61 percent of Republicans and 72 percent of independents said the same thing.
Of the eight issues that Gallup polled, respondents said they most favor an energy bill that provides incentives for using alternative energy, followed by an overhaul of the tax code. Withdrawal from Afghanistan came in third.
"With Republicans in control of the House of Representatives and Democrats in control of the Senate, it would appear the proposals with the best chances of passing are those that generate strong bipartisan support," wrote Gallup's Jeffrey Jones, adding that on Afghanistan, there may be just enough bipartisan agreement for Congress to pass legislation on the issue.
A December CNN/Opinion Research poll found that 63 percent of the public opposed continued U.S. involvement in the war in Afghanistan, an all-time high.