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                            January 23, 2015Debt Up; Interest Rates, Too?
Americans are sending positive signals about much of the economy, but they still remain deeper in debt than they were last year at this time. They also continue to think higher interest rates are coming on the money they owe.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 29% of American Adults say they owe more money than they did a year ago. That's unchanged from December and consistent with surveying since last summer. But just 23% said they owed more money in January of last year. Thirty-two percent (32%) say they owe less money than they did a year ago, while for 36% their level of debt is 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 800 American Adults was conducted on January 18-19, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
January 23, 2015Obama's Attempt to Turn the Page Undermined By Policy Failures by Michael Barone
It's not in the printed text, but the most revealing words in President Obama's seventh State of the Union address came near the end. After the scripted line, "I have no more campaigns to run," elicited Republican applause, Obama ad libbed, "I know, because I won both of them."

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                            January 22, 2015To Sell or Not To Sell: Americans Are Unsure
While homeowner confidence in home values has reached new highs, Americans as a whole still aren’t convinced that it’s a good time to put a house on the market.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% of American Adults think now is a good time for someone in their area to be selling home, down slightly from previous surveys and in line with findings since last July. Thirty-three percent (33%) disagree, which is down four points from December and the lowest since June. Nearly as many (31%) are not sure, up four points from the previous survey and the highest finding to date. In June, the number who thought it was a good time to sell hit a five-year high of 44%.  (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 and Facebook.
The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on January 16-17, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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                            January 22, 2015Is It the Government's Job to Close the Income Gap?
President Obama focused much of his State of the Union address this week on initiatives he says will financially help lower- and middle-income Americans, but voters still place more importance on government policies that encourage a free market over ones that reduce the income gap.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 66% of Likely U.S. Voters consider policies that reduce the income gap between rich and poor to be at least somewhat important. Twenty-eight percent (28%) don’t consider such policies to be important. This includes 38% who regard those policies as Very Important and eight percent (8%) who say they are Not At All Important. (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 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 19-20, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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                            January 22, 2015Bush vs. Romney, and the Winner Among GOP Voters Is…
For most voters, it’s the battle of the best-known last names on the Republican side. For many GOP voters, it’s the battle of the moderates seeking the party’s 2016 presidential nomination. Call it what you will: Right now, Mitt Romney holds a double-digit lead over Jeb Bush in a head-to-head matchup.
If the 2016 Republican presidential primary were held in their state right now and Romney and Bush were the only names on the ballot, 49% of Likely Republican Voters would choose the party’s 2012 presidential nominee, while 32% would opt instead for the former Florida governor. But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a sizable 19% are undecided given only these two candidates to choose from. (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 787 Likely Republican Voters was conducted on January 18-19, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
January 22, 2015Google Glass Joins the Failure Hall of Fame by Froma Harrop
Google Glass has entered the annals of spectacular product failures. Many bright ideas have foundered on the shoals of consumer rejection. The Product Failure Hall of Fame is too small to contain them all. But a few fall from such enormous heights of hype and hope that they deserve special recognition as awesome.
 As such, Google Glass (2013) joins the Edsel (1957), Crystal Pepsi (1992) and Clairol's Touch of Yogurt shampoo (1979) as one of the greats.
Follow Froma Harrop on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com. To find out more about Froma Harrop and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CREATORS.COM
January 22, 2015Obama’s Approval Rating and the Outlook for the 2016 Presidential Election By Alan I. Abramowitz
With the 2014 midterm election in the rearview mirror, the attention of pundits and political prognosticators has quickly shifted to the outlook for the 2016 presidential election. On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State, First Lady, and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton appears to be the prohibitive favorite to emerge as the nominee. On the Republican side, however, there is no clear frontrunner, and early maneuvering by prospective candidates has intensified with the announcement by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush that he is seriously considering a run for the White House. In addition to Bush, several prominent current and former Republican officeholders have already signaled their interest in running, including 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.

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                            January 22, 2015Are Inflation Worries Beginning to Wind Down?
Concern about inflation appears to be trending down, and Americans are more confident in the federal government to handle it.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 70% of American Adults are still at least somewhat concerned about inflation, with 29% who are Very Concerned. Just 25% don't share that concern, and that includes only five percent (5%) who are Not At All Concerned. (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 and Facebook.
The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on January 18-19, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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                            January 21, 201530% 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 January 18. 
This finding is unchanged from the week before. The number of voters who think the country is heading in the right direction was below 30% most weeks 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 2,800 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from January 12-18, 2015. 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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                            January 21, 2015Americans Are More Confident Their Homes Have Increased in Value
Already more optimistic about the future value of their home, homeowners are also more confident about its current value.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 84% of American Homeowners are at least somewhat confident that they know how much their home is worth in today’s market, in line with recent surveys. Just 12% are not confident that they know their home’s worth. This includes 46% who are Very Confident and three percent (3%) who are Not At All Confident. (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 670 American Homeowners was conducted on January 16-17, 2015 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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                            January 21, 2015Voters Think Obama’s Plan Makes More Middle Class Taxes Likely
President Obama in his State of the Union address last night proposed $320 billion in tax increases on the wealthiest Americans including raising capital gains and inheritance taxes in an effort to pay for initiatives he says will benefit lower- and middle-class taxpayers. Democrats overwhelmingly support the president’s plan, but most voters suspect it will lead to more taxes on the middle class as well.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% of all Likely U.S. Voters favor the tax increases the president is proposing, while 41% are opposed. Ten percent (10%) 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 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 19-20, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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                            January 21, 2015Voters Are Less Skeptical About Elections
Following last November's midterm elections, voters are more confident in the fairness of U.S. elections than they have been in over two years, but they're still highly skeptical of their representatives in Congress.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters now think elections are generally fair to voters, up from 39% in July and the highest level of confidence since October 2012.  Forty percent (40%), however, say elections are not fair. Fifteen percent (15%) 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 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 15-16, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
January 21, 2015Restate of the Union by John Stossel
President Obama sure is consistent. His State of the Union address sounded like his other speeches: What I've done is great! America is in a much better position. We've created a manufacturing sector that's adding jobs. More oil is produced at home. I cut deficits in half!

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                            January 20, 2015Confidence in America’s Banks Is Up, Too
Americans are starting 2015 off with their most positive view of the country’s banking system since before the Wall Street meltdown.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking system, including 10% who are Very Confident. This overall finding is up 10 points from the 2014 low found in December. It is the highest finding since July 2008 before the Wall Street meltdown and the federal bailout of the financial system.
Thirty-two percent (32%) are still not confident in the stability of the banking industry, with seven percent (7%) who are Not At All Confident. The overall finding is down 12 points from December and is the lowest finding in nearly seven years. (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 and Facebook.
The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on January 18-19, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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                            January 20, 2015Americans Still Believe We Can Talk Honestly About Race
It’s been a difficult year for race relations in the United States, but most Americans still think they can talk honestly about race with each other.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 63% of American Adults believe it is possible for people of different races in America to have an honest and open discussion about race issues. Twenty-three percent (23%) say this type of discussion is not possible. Thirteen percent (13%) 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 and Facebook.
The survey of 800 Adults was conducted on January 14-15, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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                            January 20, 2015Voters Have a State of the Union Message: No New Spending
Voters have a message of their own for President Obama’s State of the Union address tonight: Don’t spend any more money. But fewer than ever plan to follow the speech.
Just 17% of Likely U.S. Voters think the president should focus on new spending programs in his latest State of the Union speech. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% believe the president should focus instead on programs that can be accomplished within current spending levels. Fifteen percent (15%) 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 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 17-18, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
January 20, 2015Government Created the Housing Bubble and Financial Crisis -- and Could Be Doing so Again By Michael Barone
What caused the financial crisis? How can we prevent another one from happening again? The answers you most often hear to those questions are (1) greed and deregulation and (2) the Dodd-Frank law.
But they're patently inadequate. Greed -- or the desire for monetary gain -- has always been with us and always will be. And no one has convincingly linked financial deregulation to the crisis. Dodd-Frank, enacted to increase regulation, confers too-big-to-fail status on very large financial institutions, which incentivizes unduly risky behavior and penalizes smaller competitors.
January 20, 2015Stop Making Excuses for Nonvoting Millennials by Froma Harrop
The recent economic crisis hit the American middle class hard. But for the youngest adults trying to gain a foothold in the good life, it's been devastating.

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                            January 20, 2015Confidence in Housing Market Jumps to New Highs
More homeowners than ever believe their home will be worth more in the future than it is today.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Homeowners say the value of their home will go up over the next year, up four points from the previous high of 40% in November and the highest level of short-term optimism in regular surveying since the spring of 2009. Just 10% think their home’s value will go down over the next 12 months, a new low. Forty-three percent (43%) say it will stay 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 670 American Homeowners was conducted on January 16-17, 2015 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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                            January 19, 2015Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 39%, Republicans 38%
Democrats have a one-point lead over Republicans on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending January 18 finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democratic candidate in their district's congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Republican 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 2,800 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from December 29-30, 2014 and January 2-4, 2015. 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.