Iraq comes back into the discussion in Senate race

President Bush once again vowed to stay the course in Iraq, amid spreading violence and predictions the U.S. won?t reduce its troop levels for at least another three years.

The President rejected a new study that claims nearly 655,000 Iraqis have died in the three years since the war began.

Also Wednesday, the U.S. Army announced plans to keep the current level of soldiers in Iraq ? 120,000 soldiers ? through 2010.

And with four weeks to go until the November election, Minnesota's senate candidates are weighing in.

Amy Klobuchar said the troops ? including nearly 3,000 reservists and National Guard members from Minnesota stationed overseas ? should have better pay and benefits.

?We can do better for our military personnel,? she said at a rally.

Klobuchar left the heavy hitting to Vietnam veteran and former Georgia senator Max Cleland, who was campaigning with her at the American Legion post in St. Louis Park.

?We're in deep, deep trouble,? Cleland said of the war in Iraq. ?And yet this President and those who follow him, like this brother Kennedy here, insist on staying the course.

The candidates spelled out their positions on Iraq in a debate Tuesday night.

Mark Kennedy said he does not favor a troop reduction. He said the U.S. should maintain its military presence until "after we're sure the terrorists can't win."

Independence Party candidate Robert Fitzgerald says he does favor an immediate --and full -- withdrawal of U.S. troops. He said the troops are "caught in the middle" of a civil war.

And Amy Klobuchar said she supports a gradual withdrawal. She said the U.S. needs a new strategy to secure the peace.

Also yesterday, Kennedy attacked Klobuchar on national security. Klobuchar had said she opposed President Bush and his desire not to let terror suspects ? who hadn?t been charged with any crimes ? challenge their detention.

Kennedy said the bill supported by the President ?will not only allow us to bring the 9/11 perpetrators to justice, but make sure that our intelligence can get the information from those that we have in detention so we can prevent attacks in the future.?

The war will most likely be an issue this Sunday, on Meet the Press.

Klobuchar and Kennedy will be in Washington, D.C., for a debate moderated by Tim Russert.

This is part of a series of senate debates on NBC profiling what were expected to be close races.

Most polls in Minnesota show Klobuchar with a double-digit lead over Kennedy, but a lot can happen between now and November 7th, something both candidates are fully aware of.

Read Scott's blog

By Scott Goldberg, KARE 11 News

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