Public Backs Afghan Troop Surge 47%-43%

Public support for a troop surge in Afghanistan is surging, too, according to a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. Support for a troop increase edged out opposition 47% to 43%, after trailing opposition 44% to 51% last month. But 58% also support waiting until after the runoff election to make the decision on sending more troops; a timetable for which Republicans have blasted Barack Obama.

On health care, it’s a good news/bad news story for Democrats. The good news: the majority support a public option, by a 48-42 margin. The bad news: the public opposes the overall plan 42%-38%, and overall faith in government is at a 12-year low. “I was hoping that business as usual was going to stop with the Obama administration,” said one respondent, “and so far I just haven’t seen that.” (More poll stories.)