There are a range of opposition groups, from Kurds to Shiia to secular Iraqi groups who have endorsed Saddam's removal. So as historical polls go, Saddam is reasonably targetted as an unpopular dictatorial incumbent.
But then the question of whether the Iraqi people want to be able to democratically choose their government is exactly the kind of question that makes the left look so morally bankrupt. We can debate whether the Right is really promoting democracy but the idea that democracy is preferable to dictatorship shouldn't be a question on the left.
-- Nathan Newman