Fifty-two percent (52%) of voters feel that America’s best days are in the past, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This marks the highest level of voter pessimism in two years and is up 13 points from a year ago when Barack Obama was elected president.

Thirty-four percent (34%) of voters now say the United States is heading in the right direction, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 43% of voters believe the United States and its allies are winning the war on terror.

The Rasmussen Consumer Index, which measures the economic confidence of consumers on a daily basis, slipped two points on Friday to 73.7. That's down two points over the past week and two points over the past month. Consumer confidence is still up 14 points from the beginning of 2009.

Economic confidence among small business owners jumped to its highest level in 18 months in August as more owners expressed faith that the U.S. economy is on the rise and gave signs that they are more willing to invest in advertising and new inventory, according to the latest Discover (R) Small Business Watch (SM). The index rose to 89.8, up 7.7 points from July and the highest level since 90.9 in February 2008.

Republican congressional candidates hold on to a four-point lead over Democrats this week in the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.

In the final full month of his Presidency, just 13% of American adults said they Strongly Approved of the way that George W. Bush performed his job as president. Forty-three percent (43%) Strongly Disapproved.

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.