Household expenses and holiday shopping have consumers preparing to spend more in December even as economic confidence has dropped to its lowest level in more than six months.
The Hudson Employment Index (SM) fell 8.9 points in November to a record low of 91.9. Growing concerns about hiring and signs of personal financial strain triggered the decline.
While political leaders in a variety of states have fallen all over themselves to move up and vote sooner in the Presidential nominating sweepstakes, American adults aren’t convinced the prize of an early vote is all that great.
A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 59% of Americans would like to see U.S. troops brought home from Iraq within a year.
In 2004, President Bush won the Electoral College votes from Kansas with 62% of the popular vote. The latest telephone survey from Rasmussen Reports suggests that Kansas is likely to stay in the Republican column during Election 2008 as well.
John McCain has regained his political footing in Arizona.
Perceptions of electability can play an important role in primaries, caucuses, and other competitions in the race for the Republican Presidential nomination.
Seventy-three percent (73%) of Democrats say that New York Senator Hillary Clinton is at least somewhat likely to win the White House if nominated by her party.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has pulled to within a single percentage point of the Democratic frontrunner in a general election match-up.
One month from today and Iowa caucus participants will answer a lot of questions about the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination.
For most Americans in most years, Thanksgiving represents the beginning of the holiday season. This year, America’s political junkies may remember Thanksgiving as the time when Election 2008 really got started.
During the month of November, 37.4% of Americans considered themselves to be Democrats, 32.5% said they were Republicans, and 30.2% were not affiliated with either major party.
A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 23% of American voters believe the United States is heading in the right direction. That’s up two points since September, but 71% still believe the nation has gotten off on the wrong track.
Arizona Senator John McCain has struggled in the race for the GOP nomination, but he continues to be competitive in general-election match-ups with top Democrats.
With the first caucuses and primaries of Election 2008 only weeks away, a new Rasmussen Reports survey of potential general-election bouts shows Senator Barack Obama (D) and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) neck-and-neck, with Obama barely ahead 43% to 41%. In the same poll, Obama moderately leads former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson 48% to 41%.
In New Hampshire, home to the first-in-the-nation Presidential Primary, Hillary Clinton’s lead over Barack Obama is now measured in single digits.
This is not a good time to be Mitt Romney. After almost a year of having the Iowa and New Hampshire airwaves to himself, he is now facing a challenge on the right from Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson and on the left from Rudy Giuliani.
In New Hampshire’s Republican Presidential Primary, the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey shows former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney with 34% support and a nineteen-point lead.
The Iowa Democratic caucuses remain a three-person race that is far too close to call. The latest Rasmussen Reports poll of the Iowa Democratic Caucus for 2008 finds Hillary Clinton at 27%, Barack Obama at 25%, and John Edwards at 24%. Bill Richardson is the only other Democrat in double-digits at 10% while Joe Biden earns 4% of the vote from Likely Caucus Participants.
Confidence in the War on Terror increased for the fourth straight month in November and is now near the highest level of President Bush’s second term in office.
