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December 31, 2014

30% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty percent (30%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending December 28. 

This finding is up three points from the previous week and is the highest finding since early June. The number of voters who think the country is on the right course ranged from 23% to 27% nearly every week after that and has been below 30% most weeks since June of last year.

(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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from December 8-14, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.

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December 31, 2014

Most Voters Now Favor Leaving Troops Behind in Afghanistan

President Obama officially ended the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan on Sunday, but most voters support his decision to keep several thousand troops there until 2016 for training and counterterrorism purposes. Still, voters tend to think history will not be kind to America’s decision to invade Afghanistan in 2001.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely U.S. Voters think U.S. troops should remain in Afghanistan in a limited non-combat role though 2016. That’s up from 48% who supported the president’s decision to keep some troops there after he announced it in late May. (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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 29-30, 2014 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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December 31, 2014

Ignorance By John Stossel

No wonder Cuba wallows in poverty.

Last week, the New York Times reported that the Castro brothers opened a special business zone where foreign companies "would be given greater control over setting wages at factories. ... (P)roposals would be approved or rejected within 60 days."

What? If I want to give someone a raise, I have to wait up to two months for government approval! That's absurd.

December 31, 2014

America Plans to Welcome 2015 With a Kiss and a Drink

Tonight at midnight, America welcomes 2015, but most Americans will be staying home again on New Year's Eve.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of American Adults are more likely to stay at home, while 22% are more likely to go out to celebrate tonight. (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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 28-29, 2014 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.

December 30, 2014

Americans Used Postal Service More This Holiday Season

The U.S. Postal Service was the deliverer of choice for more Americans this holiday season.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of American Adults used the Postal Service about the same as they have in previous years. Sixteen percent (16%) say they used the USPS more this holiday season, while 21% say they used it less. (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 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 28-29, 2014 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.

December 30, 2014

Voters Think GOP Needs A Fresh Face in 2016

Most voters – including Republicans – think the GOP should start fresh during the next presidential election. But a sizable number of voters also express concern about families from both sides of the political aisle holding too much influence.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 64% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Republicans should look for a fresh face to run for president in 2016. Just 10% think the GOP should promote a candidate who has run in the past. Twenty-five percent (25%) are not sure. (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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 28, 2014 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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December 30, 2014

Hollywood, Women and Angelina by Froma Harrop

Was Angelina Jolie unqualified to direct the big-budget World War II saga "Unbroken"? The movie tells the true story of Louis Zamperini, a champion runner and champion survivor -- of his bomber's crash, 47 days on an ocean raft and torture in a Japanese prison camp.

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December 30, 2014

Comparing the two Most Republican Houses in 70 Years by Michael Barone

Before Christmas, Arizona finished its 2nd Congressional District recount, showing Republican Martha McSally beating incumbent Democrat Ron Barber by 167 votes. This means there will be 247 Republicans in the House in the 114th Congress -- one more than was elected to the House in the 80th Congress in 1946. It's the most Republican House since the one elected in 1928, a year when very few of today's voters were alive.

December 29, 2014

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 39%, Republicans 39%

Democrats and Republicans are closing out 2014 tied on the Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending December 28 finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican candidate in their district's congressional race if the election were held today, while the same number (39%) would choose the Democrat instead.

(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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from December 22-23, and December 28, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.

December 29, 2014

Republicans Aren't Thrilled by Another Bush Candidacy

GOP voters aren’t enthused about Jeb Bush running for president in 2016 and feel even more strongly that his family’s history in the White House makes him a less attractive candidate to vote for.

Just 33% of Likely Republican Voters nationwide believe Bush should run for president in 2016, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey. Just as many (34%) disagree, while another 33% are not sure. (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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 28, 2014 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.

December 29, 2014

President Gets No Bounce from Improving Economy

A number of economic indicators suggest the economy is improving, but voters aren't giving President Obama any additional credit for that improvement.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters give the president good or excellent ratings for his handling of economic issues, little changed in regular surveys since November 2010. Slightly more voters (41%) still think the president is doing a poor job in this area. (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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 21-22, 2014 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.

December 29, 2014

Few Have Bought Health Insurance Through New Exchanges

Voters end the year with little personal experience with the health insurance exchanges established under the new health care law.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 15% of Likely U.S. Voters say they or any member of their immediate family have bought health insurance through one of the new exchanges. (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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 28, 2014 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.

December 27, 2014

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls: Week Ending December 27

Did you get what you wanted this Christmas? Sony Pictures didn’t, or did they?

December 26, 2014

Nearly Half Want Their State to Legalize Recreational Pot

More voters now support legalizing recreational marijuana use in their state, even as Nebraska and Oklahoma plan to sue Colorado over its marijuana laws.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters now favor the legalization of recreational marijuana use in their state, while 43% are opposed. Support for legalization is up from 43% among all Americans in August and 41% of voters in January. (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 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 23, 2014 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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December 26, 2014

Behold, the Magic Kingdom of Dynamic Scoring By Froma Harrop

While most citizens were distracted by the holidays, the enlarged Republican majority in Congress was laying golden pavers for its magical kingdom -- a fabulous place where taxes are cut, military spending is not and budgets balance effortlessly. The coat of arms reads, "Tax Cuts Pay for Themselves."

And to think the rubble has hardly been cleared from the ruins of the most recent magical kingdom, that ruled by George W. Bush. Not only did the Bush tax cuts not pay for themselves but tax revenue as a share of the economy today isn't even close to what it was in 2000.

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December 26, 2014

Washington Power Is Flowing Away By Michael Barone

Too much power being grabbed by Washington -- Obamacare, environmental regulations, education standards. That's a constant complaint of conservatives not only during Barack Obama's presidency but during George W. Bush's as well.

But power is also flowing out of Washington, largely unnoticed, and back to the states and localities. You can see that if you look at transportation policy, which is following the same path as the little remembered federal revenue sharing program enacted in the Nixon years and phased out during the Reagan presidency.

December 26, 2014

Voters Still Give Congress Dismal Reviews

Even though they just voted in a new Republican majority, voters still give Congress dismal marks and the majority believe members get reelected because the system is rigged.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just eight percent (8%) of Likely U.S. Voters rate Congress’s performance as good or excellent, unchanged from the last two months. Sixty-four percent (64%) rate their performance as poor, also in line with earlier surveys. (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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 20-21, 2014 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.

December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Day is still regarded by Americans as one of the nation’s most important holidays, though slightly more now celebrate it as a secular holiday compared to past years.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of American Adults consider Christmas to be one of the nation’s most important holidays, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just five percent (5%) say Christmas is the least important holiday, while 28% say it is somewhere in between the two. (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 1000 American Adults was conducted on December 22-23, 2014 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.

December 24, 2014

27% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-seven percent (27%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending December 21. 

This finding is up two points from the previous week. The number of voters who think the country is on the right course has now ranged from 23% to 27% nearly every week since early June and has been below 30% most weeks since June of last year

(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 national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from December 8-14, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.

December 24, 2014

More Americans Will Host Family and Friends This Holiday Season

A quarter of Americans will be traveling this holiday season and most will be visiting family and friends, but more adults will be hosting guests than last year.

Twenty-three percent (23%) of American Adults plan on traveling away from home this holiday season, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-four percent (74%) don’t plan on traveling. (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 1000 American Adults was conducted on December 22-23, 2014 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.