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                            December 18, 2014Americans Still View Home Ownership As Strong Investment
Adults nationwide round out 2014 still believing owning a home is a top investment but remain divided as to whether now’s a good time to sell in their area.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds 55% of American Adults believe that buying a home is the best investment most families can make. That’s generally in line with findings over the past several years  but is the highest level of confidence measured since June. Twenty-five percent (25%) disagree and say home ownership is not the best bet for most families, but 19% 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 American Adults was conducted on December 12-13, 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 18, 2014Pottersville Goes Online By Froma Harrop
What is it that makes the holiday movie classic "It's a Wonderful Life" feel so ancient? It's the relationships, but which ones? 
December 18, 2014Which Party Do Voters Trust More? Depends on the Issue
Voters continue to see Republicans as the party to trust when it comes to economic growth, fiscal restraint and national security. Democrats remain their first choice, however, on issues like health care, education and the environment. 
New national telephone surveying finds that Likely U.S. Voters trust the GOP more on eight of 15 major issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports - the economy, national security, Afghanistan, taxes, job creation, government spending, small business and gun control. Democrats hold the trust advantage on seven issues - energy, immigration, government ethics and corruption, health care, Social Security, education and the environment. (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  
Three national surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on December 7-8, 11-12 & 15-16, 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 18, 2014Expect Fewer Christmas Cards This Year
Christmas remains an overwhelmingly American holiday, but not when it comes to sending Christmas cards.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 89% of American Adults celebrate Christmas in their family, showing little change from past findings. (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 14-15, 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 17, 201425% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Twenty-five percent (25%) 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 14. 
This finding is down one point 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.

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                            December 17, 2014Voters Think U.S. Military Should Put America First
Voters feel even more strongly that the U.S. military should focus on defending America’s interests rather than addressing the problems of other nations.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 67% of U.S. Likely Voters believe military strategy should be focused narrowly on defending America and its interests. That's up 12 points from 55% who felt that way in 2011. Only 26% now say the military’s strategy should be the maintenance of worldwide stability and peace, compared to 34% three years ago. (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 11-12, 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 17, 2014Voters to Obama, Congress: Work Together!
Voters are closely divided over whether the upcoming Congress will be better than the one that is now leaving town, but they believe overwhelmingly that President Obama and the new Congress should work together rather than stand on principle.
Only 13% of Likely U.S. Voters think it is more important for Congress and the president to stand for what they believe in. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% feel it is more important for them to work together to achieve what is best for the country. (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 15-16, 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 17, 2014Governing vs. Giving By John Stossel
It's the season for giving.
That doesn't mean it's the season for government.
Government creates loyalty in the minds of citizens by pretending to be Santa Claus, doling out gifts and favors. Politicians claim they help those unfortunates who aren't helped by coldhearted capitalism.

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                            December 17, 2014Americans Are Finding More Joy in the Holidays
More Americans are feeling the spirit this holiday season.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of American Adults are having difficulty getting into the holiday season, but that's down from 41% a year ago and from 43% in December 2009 at the end of the first full year after the Wall Street meltdown. Fifty-seven percent (57%) are not having any trouble getting into the season, up from a low of 49% in 2010 and the highest level of enthusiasm in several years of surveying at this time of year. (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 nationwide was conducted on December 14-15, 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 16, 2014Voters Want Feds to Cut Spending to Boost Economy
Americans are still concerned that the government won’t do enough to help the nation’s economy, and most see cutting spending as the necessary fix.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters worry that in reacting to the nation’s current economic problems, the federal government will not do enough, down slightly from October’s all-time high of 54%. Thirty-seven percent (37%) fear the government will try to do too much, barely up from 36% two months ago, the lowest level of concern since 2011. Eleven percent (11%) 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 11-12, 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 16, 2014Americans Still Have Lots of Holiday Shopping Left
The clock is ticking. With less than 10 days left until Christmas, Americans are on pace with last season’s holiday shopping.
Sixty-eight percent (68%) of American Adults have now started their holiday shopping, up from 54% two weeks ago and 34% a month ago. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% have yet to start their holiday gift shopping at this point. (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 nationwide was conducted on December 14-15, 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 16, 2014Voters See A Sinking America
U.S. voters are less bullish on America’s role in the world and see a diminished United States in the decades to come.
Just 27% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States will still be the most powerful nation in the world by the end of the 21st century, down from 37% in January 2009 shortly after the Wall Street meltdown and just before President Obama took office. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% disagree and believe the United States will not be the number one world power, a 14-point increase from 34% six years ago. Twenty-four percent (24%) 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 U.S. Voters was conducted on December 11-12, 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 16, 2014Charity Versus Panhandling by Froma Harrop
I'm paying up at this discount store, and the nice woman at the cash register asks me something like, "Do you want to support a program to help homeless teenagers get drug counseling?"
December 16, 2014Don't Look for Culture War Arguments in Campaign 2016 By Michael Barone
In an earlier column, I looked at the role the abortion issue would play in the 2016 election -- not very much, I concluded -- and promised another column on other cultural issues. Here goes.
On anyone's list of cultural issues that have been debated over the last decade, same-sex marriage ranks just behind abortion. And unlike abortion, opinion on same-sex marriage has changed dramatically in recent years.

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                            December 16, 2014Homeowners Worry A Bit More About Their Mortgage Payments
The number of homeowners who think they are likely to miss or be late on a mortgage payment in the next few months is at its highest level in over a year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 12% of homeowners say they are likely to miss or be late on a house payment in the next six months, up from eight percent (8%) in October and the highest finding since September 2013. This overall finding includes six percent (6%) who think it is Very Likely. But 84% say they are unlikely to miss or be late on a payment, with 60% who say it is Not At All Likely.  (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 637 Adult Homeowners and 1,000 American Adults was conducted on December 12-13, 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 15, 2014Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 40%, Democrats 37%
Republicans have taken the lead on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending December 14 finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republicans in their district's congressional race if the election were held today, while 37% would choose the Democrat.
(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 15, 2014Confidence in Housing Market Shows Little Change
Homeowners remain fairly confident in their home’s short- and long-term value, and most still think it’s worth more than what they owe on their mortgage.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% of Adult Homeowners think the value of their home will go up over the next year, down from November’s all-time high of 40%. Twelve percent (12%) believe their home’s value will go down next year, but nearly half (47%) say it will remain about the same. (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 637 American Homeowners was conducted on December 12-13, 2014 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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                            December 15, 2014Voters Want More Drone Strikes on Terrorists Overseas
Support for the use of unmanned drone aircraft to kill suspected terrorists overseas is the highest it's been in over two years, but voters still express concern about innocent civilians killed in such attacks.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the United States’ use of drone aircraft to kill al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorists overseas. That’s up from 63% a year ago but is still down from a high of 76% in February 2012 after President Obama first acknowledged the drone program’s existence.Just 12% oppose the use of drones to kill terrorists in other countries, while 17% remain 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 13-14, 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 15, 2014Most Still Expect Health Care System to Suffer Under Obamacare
Voters still strongly approve of the health care they are getting, but most also remain convinced that it will get worse under the new national health care law.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 78% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the quality of health care they now receive as good or excellent. Only five percent (5%) consider that care to be poor. (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 13-14, 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 14, 2014Young People Are Less Likely to See Voting As Catalyst For Change
A sizable number of Americans feel today’s young people are less politically active than those in previous generations, but it may come down to what adults of different ages see as effective forms of activism.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a plurality (44%) of American Adults believe young people are less politically active now than they were in previous generations. Eighteen percent (18%) say young adults are more politically active, while 29% say the level of activism is about the same as in prior generations. (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 national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 10-11, 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.