ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- A just-released Harris Poll finds that public perceptions of the facts that led up to the invasion of Iraq remain almost unchanged in spite of a barrage of media reports that might have changed them.For example:A 51% to 38% majority continues to believe that "Iraq actually had weapons of mass destruction," virtually unchanged since February.A 49% to 36% plurality of all adults continues to believe that "clear evidence that Iraq was supporting Al Qaeda has been found." These numbers have scarcely changed since June 2003.A 51% to 43% plurality continues to believe that "intelligence given before the war to President Bush by the CIA and others about Iraqi's weapons of mass destruction" was "completely" or "somewhat" accurate. In February, a 50% to 45% plurality believed this.While a 43% plurality believes that the "U.S. government deliberately exaggerated the reports of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to increase support for war," a 50% plurality (also virtually unchanged over the last eight months) continues to believe that the government "tried to present the information accurately."Sense of being "bogged down" increasesOnly one of the eight questions asked in this survey on Iraq found any significant change over the last two months. Those who believe that it is "very likely" that the U.S. will get "bogged down for a long time in Iraq and not be able to create a stable government there" have increased from 37% in February to 45% now. However, this has had no significant impact on the number of people who "favor keeping a large number of U.S. troops there until there is a stable government " (42%) or those who favor "bringing most of our troops home in the next year" (51%).A case of cognitive dissonance?The remarkable stability of these numbers suggest that people have made up their minds on many of the key issues relating to weapons of mass destruction and links to Al Qaeda, and that it would take something very big to change them. It seems that people believe media reports which fit with their opinions and reject those which do not. The balance on several of the key questions is tilted roughly 50% to 40% in favor of the administration.Potential impact of these issues in the November electionsIf President Bush continues to enjoy this modest but significant advantage between now and November, it will be difficult for Senator Kerry and the Democrats to use these issues against him in the election campaign. If, on the other hand, a substantial majority of the public comes to believe that there were no weapons of mass destruction, or links to Al Qaeda, or that President Bush exaggerated the evidence to increase support for the invasion, the result could be disastrous for him, survey results indicate.Visit Harris Interactive: www.harrisinteractive.com"