Support continues to rise for the use of ground troops against the Islamic State (IS), a new Quinnipiac University poll shows.
The poll found that 62 percent would support ground troops in Iraq and Syria to fight IS (also known as ISIS or ISIL). Just 30 percent oppose ground troops in the area.
The Hill reports:
Seventy-three percent of Republicans surveyed would approve the use of ground troops, as would 53 percent of Democrats. The poll also found strong support for ground troops among independents, with 60 percent saying they would back their deployment in the fight against ISIS.
The Quinnipiac poll shows a significant uptick in support for a combat mission. In late February, a Pew poll found that 47 percent would back boots on the ground. A separate CNN/ORC poll from the same month also concluded 47 percent supported the same outcome.
The poll’s findings come as Congress debates whether to authorize a request President Obama made on Feb. 11 for war powers against ISIS. His proposed authorization for use of military force (AUMF) would prohibit the use of "enduring offensive ground combat operations," language aimed at soothing Democratic fears about a prolonged war in the Middle East.