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Jed Boal ReportingHere in Utah most people think the President is in touch with Americans, and focused on the most important issues last night in his State of the Union speech, but not everyone is so sure we're getting the whole truth on Iraq.
Following last night's address, Utahns again voiced strong support for the Commander-in-Chief, but the numbers also tell us people are less certain now about cohesiveness in the country and whether the president is giving us an accurate picture of the war in Iraq.
"I myself am an army veteran and I support the president 100-percent."
That's the kind of support the president expects in Utah. Following the speech last night, a Survey USA poll of Utahns for KSL-TV showed more than half think the President focused on the most important issues, 30-percent disagree.
When it comes to being in touch with the average American, 58-percent feel the President is in touch, nearly 40-percent say he's not.
"When I hear the people who went through the hurricanes talking about the lack of support they've gotten, then I wonder how much they are in touch."
50-percent think the speech will bring Americans together, nearly 30-percent say it will divide us further.
"Where's the faith in the people they elected to be president? They elected him, they should believe in him."
That faith could be slipping.
"I think there are things not being disclosed, definitely."
Fewer than 50-percent think the President is telling Americans the whole truth about how things are going in Iraq. About 35-percent say he's shading the truth, making the situation in Iraq look better than it really is.
"I'm not in favor of the war, but there are certain things you have to support regarding terrorism. But, overall, I think there are things we're not being let in on."
"I think he's doing his best job to tell the truth as he knows it."
14-percent say he's intentionally misleading us.
"I did two tours in Vietnam and I think he's gotten us right back into it again. I feel like Iraq is a lost cause."
"Compared to past presidents, I think he's been more above board and honest than most of them are."
A number of the people we talked to are surprised to see any kind of erosion in the support for the president in Utah.
