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But the public appears largely skeptical of those pledges.

Nearly two-thirds, 60 percent, have no confidence that the political institutions at either end of Pennsylvania Avenue can work together to solve the nation's problems. Overall, the public has grown less confident since the days after the election when nearly half, 47 percent, expressed confidence that Bush and Congress could work together.

Four in 10, or 42 percent, think the country will now be better off with Democrats controlling Congress, while 18 percent think it will be worse off. Thirty-nine percent think it won't make much difference.

Iraq remains the public's top concern, with 65 percent disapproving of Bush's handling of the situation.

Support for sending more troops to Iraq grew slightly after Bush's speech, although the idea is still unpopular.

Almost one-third of the public - 31 percent - favor the plan, an improvement from 26 percent in a survey done almost entirely before he spoke to the country Jan. 10. Thirty-five percent now believe additional troops will help stabilize the situation in Iraq, also up from 25 percent.

Bush's overall approval rating inched upward to 36 percent, from 32 percent early in the month. Despite that low score, 53 percent of Americans say he is likable; 58 percent, decisive; and 58 percent, strong.

In the eyes of 83 percent of Americans, he also is stubborn.

"Mainly it's his 'stay the course' attitude," said Bill Basher, 21, a Republican from Angola, N.Y.

In other survey findings:

Americans rated health care, the economy and Iraq and terrorism the issues they care about most. When asked to choose the issue most important to them personally, 24 percent named Iraq, the top choice.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., the first woman in that office, scored a job approval rating of 51 percent, significantly higher than that of Congress, at 34 percent approval.

The telephone poll of 1,005 adults was conducted Jan. 16-18 by Ipsos, an international polling firm. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

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