Ohio, Texas Torn Over Iraq

Ohio, Texas have suffered 1 in 8 US troop deaths

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 3, 2008 9:03 PM CST

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Ohio, Texas Torn Over Iraq — U.S. Army Sgt. Andrea Pierce from Canton, Ohio of the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division takes up position on the Tigris River in north Baghdad, Iraq on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007. The paratroopers, some of whom acknowledge a reputation for heavy handedness earned from previous tours in Iraq, appear... (Associated Press)

Tomorrow's most delegate-rich primary states, Ohio and Texas, are key to the US war effort and staunchly support the troops—but remain divided over whether to stay or quit a conflict that has cost 4,000 US lives and $500 billion. And between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on the one hand, and John McCain on the other, they are offered a stark choice of fight or flight.

Anecdotal evidence in both states mirrors a US split over Iraq policy, the AP reports. "Get out of there the first chance you get," said a retired Air Force veteran in West, Texas, who looks forward to a new president. A barber in southeast Ohio agreed that "we need to come home, but we need to get the job done"—yet remains undecided on whether to stick with the GOP or switch to the Democrats. (More Iraq exit strategy stories.)

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