Poll: Nearly half want Democrat in Oval Office next time around; More than half think Bush isn't 'honest and ethical'

A new poll shows that nearly half of the American public would prefer a Democrat to be elected president in 2008, and over two-thirds are against President Bush's "surge" strategy.

"When President George W. Bush declared earlier this month that the only way to quell sectarian violence in Iraq was to send more than 20,000 additional American troops, he probably knew the move would be unpopular," Brian Braiker writes for Newsweek. "Indeed, the latest NEWSWEEK poll finds that Bush’s call for a 'surge' in troops is opposed by two-thirds (68 percent) of Americans and supported by only a quarter (26 percent)."

"Almost half of all respondents (46 percent) want to see American troops pulled out 'as soon as possible,'" the article continues.

The poll also adds that when asked about Bush, "more than half of the public thinks he is not 'honest and ethical' (54 percent) and lacks 'strong leadership qualities' (57 percent)."