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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.

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December 24, 2014

Up-Lyft-ing Xmas Tale By John Stossel

This Christmas Eve, if you see a fat man in a sleigh distributing presents, tell him he is in violation of several government regulations.

The Federal Aviation Administration is upset about his secret flight path, and his gift bag violates charity tax rules.

In real life, government barely lets people give each other rides in cars. But now the Internet has given birth to exciting businesses that challenge the rules.

December 24, 2014

49% Think U.S. Should Lift Cuba Embargo

Following President Obama's announcement last week of a plan to “normalize” relations with Cuba, voters more than ever think the United States should lift the economic embargo it imposed on the Communist country 54 years ago.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should lift the embargo that was put in place during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagree, but 23% are not sure. In the past, voters were much more divided over lifting the embargo (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 19-20, 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 23, 2014

Voters Have an Unfavorable View of the EPA

Fewer voters than ever have a favorable opinion of the Environmental Protection Agency, and a plurality say that its regulations and actions hurt the economy. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 32% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of the EPA, the lowest finding in the three years the question has been asked. Forty percent (40%) view the agency unfavorably, unchanged from June. Twenty-eight percent (28%) are undecided, the highest finding to date. (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 23, 2014

Americans Favor U.S. Involvement If North Korea Was Behind Sony Attacks

Most adults believe the United States should get involved if it is proven that the North Koreans were behind the computer attacks and threats against Sony Pictures, but are more hesitant in calling such a cyberattack an act of war.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of American Adults believe the United States should get more involved if it is proven that the North Korean government was behind the computer attacks and threats against a U.S.-based company. Twenty-five percent (25%) believe this issue is strictly between Sony and North Korea. Eighteen percent (18%) 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 18-19, 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 23, 2014

The Rape on Campus Epidemic By Michael Barone

The total discrediting of Rolling Stone's story on rape at the University of Virginia has shined a light on one of the least palatable features of American life: the so-called epidemic of rape on campus.   

December 23, 2014

One-In-Four Voters Think North Korea Wants War

U.S. Voters now view North Korea as being as big a threat as China and Iran, but most don’t think it is seeking war with the United States.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 73% of Likely U.S. Voters regard North Korea as an enemy of the United States. That’s down from 81% at the beginning of the year and 82% in 2012. Just two percent (2%) regard North Korea as an ally of the United States, while 19% think 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 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.

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December 23, 2014

Unzipping the Elizabeth Warren Package By Froma Harrop

They like her style. Many liberals adore Elizabeth Warren's populist passion for denouncing predatory conduct by Wall Street -- and her linking it to growing income inequality.

Though the senator from Massachusetts insists she's not running for president, her fan base has set up camp in Iowa, fueling the fires for a Warren candidacy. They want her to challenge Hillary Clinton, a likely contender viewed as more lenient toward the captains of finance.

December 23, 2014

Most Americans Unconcerned About Toy Safety

Even as children are getting ready to unwrap their Christmas presents, toy safety is not concern for most American Adults.

Just 37% of all Americans are at least somewhat concerned about the safety of most toys being sold this holiday season, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That is up just slightly from 33% last year and includes 14% who are Very Concerned. However, toy safety concerns are still down significantly from a high of 53% in 2012. 

Most Americans, though (60%), are not concerned about toy safety this holiday season, unchanged from a year ago. This includes 25% who are Not At All Concerned. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

December 22, 2014

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 40%, Democrats 39%

Republicans continue to hold a slight lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending December 21 finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican candidate in their district's congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% 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 15-21, 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 22, 2014

At The Last Minute, 22% Still Haven’t Started Their Holiday Shopping

With Christmas just three days away, gift shopping time is coming down to the wire, but one-in-five Americans still haven’t started yet.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 76% of American Adults have started their holiday gift shopping, up from 68% a week ago and 54% at the beginning of the month. Twenty-two percent (22%) still have not started their holiday shopping. (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 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.