The Bush administration’s escalation of the Iraq war drew a harsh reaction Thursday with Congress, protests, and public opinion polls all showing growing signs of opposition to sending more troops to Iraq. A new AP-Ipsos poll shows public opposition to a troop surge has reached 71 percent -- ten percent more than from earlier this week.

The President’s overall job approval rating is hovering around its lowest mark at just 32 percent. Protests were held in several cities, including New York, San Francisco and Boston in what peace activists called a prelude to a major rally in Washington, DC two weeks from Saturday.