Say Anything Blog

Aug. 30, 2005 — Anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan has won some sympathizers, but hasn't changed many minds: As many Americans say Sheehan has made them more likely to support the war as to oppose it, and the vast majority says she hasn't changed their views at all.

One thing Sheehan has accomplished is broad exposure: Three-quarters of Americans in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll have heard or read about her highly publicized protest outside George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. She does receive support: Fifty-three percent support what Sheehan's doing and 52 percent think Bush should meet with her again, as she's requested.

Sheehan supporters are very disproportionately those who oppose the war. (In an ABC/Post poll earlier this summer, 53 percent said it was not worth fighting.) Nevertheless, Sheehan has not changed the basic equation — or many minds at all. About eight in 10 Americans say she hasn't changed their overall opinion of the war. Among the rest, as many say they're more likely to support the war because of Sheehan (10 percent) as say they're more likely to oppose it (9 percent).