Politics

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                            November 11, 2011Obama Trails Generic Republican in Ohio
Most voters in the important swing state of Ohio disapprove of the way President Obama is handling his job, and an overwhelming majority believe the nation has gotten off on the wrong track.
(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 derived from nightly presidential tracking poll surveys conducted October 17-November 8, 2011 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. 

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                            November 11, 2011Just 25% Have Favorable Opinion of Rick Perry
Of the top contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is viewed most favorably by all voters, while Texas Governor Rick Perry is the least liked. Among Republican voters, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich still earn mostly positive reviews, while Perry and Ron Paul do not.  
Following his devastating debate freeze, just 25% of voters nationwide now have a favorable opinion of Perry.
(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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 9-10, 2011 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.

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                            November 11, 201186% Give U.S. Military Positive Marks
As the nation marks Veterans Day today, voters nationwide continue to strongly praise the performance of the U.S. military.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 86% rate the military's performance as good or excellent, including a majority (58%) who thinks the military is doing an excellent job.
November 10, 2011In Florida, Obama Trails Generic Republican by Six
In the swing state of Florida, President Obama’s job approval rating is below the 50% mark and the economy is the top issue on the minds of voters.
New Rasmussen Reports polling data shows that 47% of Florida’s Likely Voters approve of the way the president is handling his job and 52% disapprove.

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                            November 10, 2011Most Believe Reporters Publish Damaging Info First, Check Facts Later
If it hurts a candidate they don’t like, most voters believe that reporters would publish damaging allegations first and seek to verify the facts later.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 54% of likely voters nationwide believe most reporters would follow the “publish first” approach while 34% believe the reporters would try to verify the facts before publishing them.
November 9, 2011Florida Primary: Cain 30%, Romney 24%, Gingrich 19%
As he continues to battle media coverage over past sexual harassment allegations, businessman Herman Cain leads other Republican hopefuls in the first Rasmussen Reports look at the GOP primary race in Florida.
The latest statewide telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary voters shows Cain with 30% support while former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney picks up 24% of the vote. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich draws support from 19% of Florida GOP voters with no other candidate picking up double-digits.
(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.
This Florida survey of 788 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on November 8, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            November 9, 201151% Now Say Allegations Against Cain Likely to Be Serious and True
Most voters now say that the sexual harassment allegations made against Herman Cain may be both serious and true. At the same time, two-thirds believe Cain’s ethics are at least as good as most politicians. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of voters nationwide say it is at least somewhat likely the allegations against Cain are both serious and true.
(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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 7-8, 2011 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.

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                            November 8, 2011California: Obama 45%, Generic Republican 41%
In reliably Democratic California, the president’s Job Approval rating has fallen below 50%, and he holds only a modest lead over a Generic Republican candidate.

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                            November 8, 2011Voters Are Angry, Especially at Congress and Bailed-Out Banks
There’s a lot of anger in America today, but voters seem to reserve a special place in hell for Congress and the large banks bailed out by the federal government.
Rasmussen Reports in its latest national telephone survey asked Likely U.S. Voters how angry they are at five segments of society regularly in the news, and most voters expressed at least some anger at all of them. But the intensity of that anger was strongest for Congress and the bailed-out banks.
(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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 5-6, 2011 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.

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                            November 8, 2011Just 33% Confident They’ll Get All Their Promised Medicare Benefits
Most voters still have a favorable opinion of Medicare but aren’t confident that they will get all their promised benefits. However, most also aren’t willing to pay more in taxes to make sure those benefits are covered.

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                            November 7, 201136% Say Wall Street Protesters Represent Views of Mainstream America, 44% Disagree
Voters tend to view the Occupy Wall Street protesters negatively and regard their views as liberal and out of step with mainstream America. They’re almost evenly divided over whether the protesters genuinely want to change the system or just want a bailout of their own.
Thirty-three percent (33%) of Likely U.S. Voters hold a favorable view of the protesters, while 43% regard them unfavorably, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-four percent (24%) are undecided.
(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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 3-4, 2011 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.
November 6, 201151% Still Think Obama's More Liberal Than They Are
Half of voters still believe President Obama is more ideologically liberal than they are, but fewer feel that way than ever before. At the same time, the number of voters who regard the Democratic agenda in Congress as extreme is at the lowest point in over a year.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 51% believe the president is more politically liberal than they are. Only 12% think he’s more conservative.
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 1-2, 2011 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.

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                            November 3, 201120% Say U.S. Government Has Consent of the Governed
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. voters feel the federal government has lost touch with the people it represents.  They also overwhelmingly believe the average member of Congress is more concerned with listening to their party leaders than their constituents. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 20% of Likely U.S. Voters say the federal government has the consent of the governed.  Sixty-three percent (63%) disagree while 17% more are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 30-31, 2011 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 methodolo
November 3, 2011National Poll: Cain 26%, Romney 23%, Gingrich 14%
Georgia businessman Herman Cain, who continues to battle past allegations of sexual harassment, draws the most support nationally for the Republican nomination.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary voters shows Cain with 26% of the vote over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s 23%. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich draws 14% support, with no other GOP contender reaching double-digits. Thirteen percent (13%) of GOP voters are undecided at this time. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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                            November 3, 2011Voters Evenly Divided As to Whether Allegations Against Cain Are Serious and True
Two-thirds of America’s voters recognize that Herman Cain is the Republican candidate who has been accused of sexual harassment. Voters are evenly divided about the allegations and most Republicans believe the public airing of the charges suggest Cain is considered a serious threat to win the nomination.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% believe the allegations against Cain are at least somewhat likely to be serious and true.  Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree and 23% are not sure. Those figures include 17% who believe it’s Very Likely and 11% who say Not at All Likely.
(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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 1-2, 2011 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.
November 2, 2011South Carolina: Cain 33% Romney 23% Gingrich 15%
In South Carolina, businessman Herman Cain leads the GOP field with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney ten points behind. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is the only other candidate in double digits. The survey was conducted on Tuesday night following two days of media coverage concerning allegations of sexual harassment against Cain.
In polling conducted before the latest allegations, Cain led in Iowa with Romney second while Romney led in New Hampshire with Cain second.
(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.
This South Carolina survey of 770 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on November 1, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
November 2, 2011Obama Full-Month Approval Index in October Dips To Lowest Level Yet
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.
In October, 20% of voters Strongly Approved of the president’s job performance.  That’s the lowest level found during the Obama presidency to date and the second time in the last three months that the finding has fallen to a record low.  Prior to last month, the number who Strongly Approved of the president’s performance ranged from a low of 21% to a high of 31% since July 2009.  By comparison, 43% Strongly Approved of Obama's performance when he assumed office in January 2009.
November 1, 2011Generic Republican 47%, Obama 42%
For nearly four months, a generic Republican candidate has led President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 matchup.  A GOP candidate now holds a five-point advantage over the incumbent for the week ending Sunday, October 30.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the generic Republican earning 47% support, while the president picks up 42% of the vote.
The survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted October 24-30, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
November 1, 2011Romney Still Viewed As Most Mainstream of Presidential Candidates
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney continues to be regarded by voters as closer to the political mainstream than other leading candidates running for the White House. Voters are evenly divided on whether President Obama, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, or businessman Herman Cain are in the political mainstream but tend to see Texas Governor Rick Perry’s views as extreme.
Forty-eight percent (48%) see Romney’s views as mainstream. Only 23% think his views are extreme while 29% aren’t sure.
(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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 30-31, 2011 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.

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                            October 31, 2011Wisconsin: Perry 46%, Obama 42%
Barack Obama carried Wisconsin easily in the 2008 presidential election, but he is slightly behind Texas Governor Rick Perry and runs just ahead of two other top Republican hopefuls in Rasmussen Reports’ first Election 2012 look at the Badger State.
Perry earns 46% support from Likely Wisconsin Voters to Obama’s 42% in a new statewide telephone survey. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, and another six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Wisconsin was conducted on October 26, 2011 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.