Pollsters beware. Pictures of body bags returning dead American soldiers, never-ending TV reports of murdered and injured civilians and people fleeing Mosul could certainly cause a huge voter backlash
Obama's Islamic State policy threatens Clinton election victory
President Obama's decision to agree to Iraqi and Peshmerga forces attacking Mosul to degrade and destroy the Islamic State just three weeks before the US elections sounds alarm bells for the prospects of Hillary Clinton beating Donald Trump on 8 November.
Secretary of Defence Ash Carter confirmed Obama's decision on 17 October.
The timing of the attack is very concerning.
Obama's decision accords with his policy enunciated as far back as 10 September 2014: