Poll: Two-Thirds of Americans Back Rumsfeld

Democrats and their media water-carriers will have do better than today's hearings in the Senate Armed Services Committee if they hope to drive Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld from his job over the alleged abuse by U.S. soldiers of suspected Iraqi terrorists.

Even before Rumsfeld batted back most of the questions hurled his way by committee Democrats and a few grandstanding Republicans, 69 percent of Americans surveyed told an ABC News/Washington Post poll they wanted him to stay. Only 20 percent wanted the defense chief to turn in his keys to the Pentagon.

Even among Democrats, a full 58 percent don't see any reason for Rumsfeld to step down, with only 30 percent saying he should go. Republicans back Rumsfeld by a margin of 8 to 1, Independents, more than 4 to 1.

802 adults were randomly surveyed for the ABC News/Washington Post poll on May 5-6, 2004, The results have a 3.5-point error margin.

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