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What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- For The Week Ending August 18, 2012

The vice presidential candidates attracted a little more news than usual this past week.

After Mitt Romney named Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan to be his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden made some high-profile gaffes. New polling finds voters are evenly divided as to which man is better qualified to be president if necessary. 

Mitt Romney announced Ryan as his running mate on Saturday, and following the resulting blast of media exposure, Ryan’s favorables are up. Fifty percent (50%) of Likely U.S. Voters now have a favorable opinion of him, compared to 39% just prior to Romney’s announcement.

Wisconsin Senate: Thompson (R) 54%, Baldwin (D) 43%

After a hard-fought primary win on Tuesday, Republican Tommy Thompson now holds a double-digit lead over Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Wisconsin Voters shows Thompson with 54% of the vote to Baldwin’s 43%. One percent (1%) prefer some other candidate, and three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Wisconsin was conducted on August 15, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Florida Senate: Nelson (D) 47%, Mack (R) 40%

Despite his impressive win in Tuesday’s state Republican Primary, Congressman Connie Mack trails Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson in Florida’s closely watched U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Florida Voters shows Nelson earning 47% support to Mack’s 40%. Three percent (3%) like some other candidate, and 10% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Florida was conducted on August 15, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

On Economy, 45% Trust Republicans, 40% Democrats

Voters now trust Republicans slightly more than Democrats on eight of 10 important issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports, including the most important one:  the economy. 

The latest national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters trust Republicans more to handle the economy, while 40% place their trust in Democrats. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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Two national surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on August 8-9 & 12-13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Wisconsin: Romney 48%, Obama 47%

The presidential race in Wisconsin is a little tighter this month following Mitt Romney's selection of hometown Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Romney with 48% support to President Obama’s 47%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and two percent (2%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Wisconsin was conducted on August 15, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

29% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, August 12.

The latest finding is up two points from the previous week.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports August 6-12, 2012. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 42%, Democrats 39%

Republicans lead Democrats by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the sixth week in a row, this time for the week ending Sunday, August 12.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Democrat instead.

Ohio Senate: Brown (D) 44%, Mandel (R) 44%

Republican challenger Josh Mandel now runs even with incumbent Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Ohio shows Mandel and Brown each earning 44% support. Three percent (3%) favor some other candidate in the contest, and nine percent (9%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Ohio was conducted on August 13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

56% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law

Most voters still want to see President Obama’s health care law repealed, and a plurality believes repeal would be good for the economy.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters favor repeal of the national health care law, while 38% are opposed. This includes 46% who Strongly Favor repeal and 29% who Strongly Oppose it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 10-11, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- For The Week Ending August 10, 2012

For many Americans, this year’s presidential race couldn’t be clearer: One candidate wants to expand the government’s role in the economy and the business world; the other claims he wants to reduce the size of that footprint.

Iowa: Romney 46%, Obama 44%

The presidential race in the battleground state of Iowa remains a near tie.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Iowa Voters finds Mitt Romney with 46% support to President Obama’s 44%. Five percent (5%) prefer another candidate in the race, and six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Iowa was conducted on August 8, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

49% Say America’s Best Days Are in the Past

Nearly half of U.S. voters continue to feel the nation’s best days are already behind them.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters think America’s best days are in the past. Thirty-two percent (32%) think the country’s best days still lie ahead, down five points from the previous survey. Another 19% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 2-3, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.

Virginia Senate: Allen (R) 46%, Kaine (D) 46%

George Allen and Tim Kaine remain deadlocked in Virginia’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters finds Republican Allen and Democrat Kaine each earning 46% support. Two percent (2%) like another candidate in the race, and six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on August 7, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

27% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-seven percent (27%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, August 5.

That's down two points from 29% the week before and the lowest finding since late June.

Virginia: Obama 48%, Romney 46%

President Obama and Mitt Romney continue to run within two percentage points of each other in the key battleground state of Virginia. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Old Dominion finds Obama with 48% support, while Romney picks up 46% of the vote. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and three percent (3%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on August 7, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Colorado: Romney, Obama Tied At 47% Each

Mitt Romney and President Obama continue to run even in Colorado.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds both men earning 47% support.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, while two percent (2%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Colorado was conducted on August 6, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 42%, Democrats 39%

Republicans lead Democrats by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the fifth week in a row, this time for the week ending Sunday, August 5.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Democrat instead.

The President's Monthly Approval Numbers Hold Steady In July

When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.

For the month of July, the president's Total Job Approval Rating held steady at 47%.  Since the beginning of 2012, that finding has remained in the narrow range of 47% to 49%.  This time last year, the president had an approval rating of 46%.  In January 2009, however, 62% of voters approved of Obama's job performance.
 
 In July, 52% disapproved of the president's performance, also showing no change from the previous month. The number who disapproves of Obama's performance has stayed in the low to mid-50s since August 2009. When the president assumed office, only 34% disapproved.

Opposition to Repeal of Health Care Law Hits New High: 44%

Fifty percent (50%) of Likely U.S. Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of President Obama’s national health care law, while 44% are opposed, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s the highest level of opposition to repeal since the law was passed by Congress in March 2010.

The latest findings include 40% who Strongly Favor repeal and 35% who Strongly Oppose it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 4-5, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Romney Up Big in Indiana

Four years ago, President Obama became the first Democrat since 1964 to win Indiana. He looks unlikely to repeat that feat.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds challenger Mitt Romney picking up 51% of the vote while the president earns just 35%.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and 11% are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The Indiana survey of 400 Likely Voters was conducted July 31-August 1, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports.  The margin of sampling error is +/- 5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.