A majority of voters (52%) continue to believe the United States and its allies are winning the war on terror, and nearly as many (48%) say America is safer today than it was before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Voters now trust Democrats more than Republicans on all ten key electoral issues tracked by Rasmussen Reports.

In September, the number of Americans who consider themselves to be Republicans increased a percentage point from 33.2% in August to 34.4% in September.

The Rasmussen Investor Index gained seven points on Wednesday and has now surged twelve points since Monday’s big day on Wall Street. At 79.9, investor confidence is up eight points from a week ago and at the highest level of the past three weeks.

Economic confidence among small business owners declined sharply in September amid rising concerns about economic conditions for their businesses and a bleak vision of where the economy is headed. The Discover(R) Small Business WatchSM fell to 74.6 in September, down 12.3 points from August.

The Democrats’ lead has held steady this week in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that, if given the choice, 45% of voters would choose their district’s Democratic candidate, while 37% would choose the Republican candidate.

During the month of August, 34% of American adults said they approved of the way that George W. Bush performed his job as president. That’s up a point from a month ago and up two points from the all-time low reached in June.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey shows that Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman has opened a seven-percentage point lead over Democratic challenger Al Franken in his bid for re-election.

Newspaper circulation has been eroding, television audiences shrinking, and reporters sent looking for work. But, while mainstream journalists and their companies struggle with the realities of an online world, consumers of journalism are pleased with the results.

October 11th is Columbus Day—the holiday honoring the anniversary of the October 12, 1492 arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Americas. A recent Rasmussen Reports survey found that only 11% declare Columbus Day as one of the nation’s most important holidays.