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Millions of Americans with friends or loved ones fighting the war in Iraq overwhelmingly support the conflict, according to a new poll.

Twenty-nine percent of those questioned for an ABC News/Washington Post poll released Monday said they had a friend or loved one serving in the U.S.-led campaign against Iraq. Among them, 79 percent said they supported the war.

Even outside that group, the war enjoyed the support of 76 percent of those polled.

On the whole, 77 percent supported the war a four percent increase over a poll conducted last week. Fifty-seven percent back the war "strongly."

But support varied dramatically by political affiliation and somewhat by sex.

The war was backed by 99 percent of conservative Republicans, but just over half of liberal Democrats in the poll. Women who identify themselves as political independents were 15 points less likely than independent men to support the war.

The war also had the support of 67 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds, but "strong" support was reported by only 40 percent of this age group.

The telephone poll was conducted April 2-April 6 among a random national sample of 1,030 people. The results have an error margin of plus or minus three percentage points.

photo credit and caption:

Tammy, center, with her twin 5-year-old children Noah, left, and Hannah, talks about what it is like to have her husband, Master Sgt. Craig deployed to the war with Iraq leaving her to care for three children on her own, during an interview Friday, April 4, 2003, in Ogden, Utah. Her husband is with the 419th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base. (AP Photo/Steve C. Wilson)

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