In Tuesday’s press briefing, a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Tony Snow whether he believes the American public would support President Bush’s potential plan to send more U.S. troops to Iraq. Snow said that Bush’s “way forward” will “address a lot of the concerns that the American public have,” and called on Congress to endorse whatever it will be:

The other thing is that there is an opportunity here, also, for Democrats and Republicans to work together; whatever the discontent may be with the President, the level of confidence in Congress is even lower. And what you have is a sense of crisis of confidence in government. And this is an opportunity for…the legislative branch and executive branch to work together

Snow is wrong, according to a new Washington Post-ABC poll:

– 57 percent trust the incoming Congress “to do a better job coping with the main problems the nation faces.” Just 31 percent trust Bush.

– 56 percent trust the incoming Congress to better deal with the situation in Iraq, compared to just 32 percent for Bush.

– 50 percent trust the incoming Congress to better fight the war on terrorism, compared to just 41 percent for Bush.

Snow is right that the legislative and executive branches have an opportunity to work together. But it the public’s confidence is much more with the Congress than the President.