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November 24, 2014

40% Approve of Obama's Immigration Plan

Half of the nation’s voters don’t like President Obama’s recently announced changes to the U.S. immigration system and think it will be bad for the economy, and a majority believes the new plan will attract more illegal immigrants.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of the president’s new plan that will allow nearly five million illegal immigrants to remain in this country legally and apply for jobs. Fifty percent (50%) oppose the plan. (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 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.

November 24, 2014

35% Say They’ve Been Hurt By Obamacare

A growing number of voters say their health insurance coverage has changed as a result of the new national health care law, and the most in over a year now say that change has been negative.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters now say their health insurance coverage has changed because of the law, up one point from last month. That number has been steadily climbing from 25% a year ago when the law made its public debut. (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 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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November 23, 2014

Who’s Your Competition on Black Friday?

One-out-of-three Americans think they’ll be among the holiday shopping crowds this Black Friday, but there’s still not much enthusiasm for going to stores that begin their sales early on Thanksgiving Day.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 33% of American Adults think they are at least somewhat likely to go shopping on the day after Thanksgiving to take advantage of Black Friday sales deals. That includes 14% who are Very Likely to do so. But 66% consider Black Friday shopping unlikely, with 35% who say it is Not At All Likely they’ll be in the stores that day. (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 November 17-18, 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.

November 22, 2014

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending November 22

Did someone miss the message on Election Day? Actions this week by President Obama and in the Senate suggest that we can look forward to another two years of hyper-intense partisanship.

The president on Thursday announced his long-anticipated plan – without congressional approval – that will allow nearly five million illegal immigrants to remain in this country legally and apply for jobs. Republican leaders, scheduled to take control of the full Congress in January, had asked Obama to delay the decision, saying it would poison their future relations. Most voters oppose the amnesty plan and think the government is not aggressive enough in deporting illegal immigrants.

November 21, 2014

38% Rate Obama’s Leadership Positively

For the second time this year, the number of voters who rate President Obama’s leadership positively has reached a three-year low.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the president is doing a good or excellent job. This ties the low first reached in August. Obama's positives have generally run in the mid-40s in regular surveys since he took office. Forty-four percent (44%) of voters think the president is doing a poor job, in line with findings for the past two 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 or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 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.

November 21, 2014

48% Expect Higher Interest Rates Next Year

While most Americans say their interest rates haven’t changed over the past year, roughly half still expect them to go up over the next 12 months.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% of American Adults say they’re paying higher interest rates today than they were a year ago, in line with surveys the past few months but down from 24% in June and July.

Twelve percent (12%) are paying lower rates than a year ago. Most Americans (63%) say their interest rates have stayed about the same, also in line with recent surveys. (To see survey questions 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 November 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.

November 21, 2014

Few Expect Ferguson Police Officer To Be Charged

Americans don’t expect the white police officer who killed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri to be charged with murder and oppose the U.S. Justice Department trying to prosecute him after that.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 23% of American Adults believe police officer Darren Wilson should be found guilty of murder in the Brown case. That’s unchanged from mid-August just after the shooting occurred. But now 39% think the officer was acting in self-defense, up from 26% three months ago. Thirty-eight percent (38%) are still undecided, but that compares to 51% in the first survey. (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 telephone survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on November 19-20, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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November 21, 2014

Let's Really Reform Immigration -- To Encourage High-Skill Immigrants By Michael Barone

"When the facts change, I change my mind," economist John Maynard Keynes said when charged with inconsistency. "What do you do, sir?"

As President Obama threatens to stretch his power to faithfully execute the law to a breaking point by effectively legalizing some 5 million illegal immigrants, perhaps I owe readers an explanation of my own changes of mind on immigration.

November 21, 2014

Voters Think Google, Facebook Spy More Than Government

When it comes to your privacy, which worries you more – the government or your search engine?

Several major technology companies like Google, Apple and Facebook supported a recently blocked bill in the U.S. Senate that would have placed tighter restrictions on the National Security Agency’s collection of phone records, but 47% of Likely U.S. voters think such companies are more likely than the government to be monitoring their personal communications and Internet activity. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 32% think the federal government is more likely to be keeping tabs on them. Twenty-one percent (21%) 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 November 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.

November 20, 2014

Pelosi, Reid Are Congress’ Least-Liked Leaders

November has not been Nancy Pelosi’s month. Despite being named the Democratic leader in the House again, she’s facing a Republican-controlled Congress and open opposition from within her own party. Now, Pelosi has edged back ahead of Harry Reid and John Boehner to be the least-liked leader in Congress.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey now finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters have an unfavorable opinion of Pelosi, including 41% with a Very Unfavorable one. Thirty-one percent (31%) view the San Francisco Democrat favorably, with just nine percent (9%) who have a Very Favorable opinion.  (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 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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November 20, 2014

Fix Decaying Pipelines First for Jobs, Health and Safety by Joe Conason

With the Keystone XL pipeline stalled again, now perhaps we can look ahead and consider more promising ways to rebuild our energy system, creating many more jobs than that controversial project ever would. No matter where we look, the far larger issue that still confronts Americans is decaying infrastructure -- which emphatically includes the enormous web of oil and gas pipelines crisscrossing the continental United States in every direction.

COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM

November 20, 2014

Louisiana Senate Runoff: Cassidy (R) 56%, Landrieu (D) 41%

Rasmussen Reports’ first survey of the Louisiana Senate runoff shows Republican challenger Bill Cassidy comfortably on his way to joining the new GOP Senate majority.

Cassidy posts a 15-point lead – 56% to 41%- over incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu among Likely Louisiana Voters in our latest statewide telephone survey. Just three percent (3%) 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 in Louisiana was conducted on November 16-19, 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.

November 20, 2014

When It Comes to NSA, Voters Put Preventing Terrorism Ahead of Privacy

A bill that would have put heavier restrictions on the National Security Agency’s collection of Americans’ phone records was blocked in the U.S. Senate Tuesday. While voters still aren’t fans of the NSA’s activities, they seem to agree with the bill’s opponents that preventing a terrorist attack is more important than protecting Americans’ privacy right now.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters believe protecting the country from a possible terrorist attack is more important than protecting the privacy of most Americans. Thirty-three percent (33%) take the opposite view, while 10% 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 November 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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November 20, 2014

The Democrats' Chronic Depression by Froma Harrop

"Smiles at the gas pump," my local headline reads. The price of gasoline has fallen below $3 a gallon.

When the national average rose last year to $3.51, Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, complained that "the liberal anti-free market policies of the Obama administration discourage the exploration of American sources of energy and hinder production and job growth."

COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM

November 20, 2014

72% Think Stores Start Christmas Season Too Soon

Walking through any malls or stores across the country right now probably yields a familiar sight—Christmas trees, holiday music and seasonal decorations, and they’ve probably been there since Halloween. But how soon is too soon?

Nearly three-out-of-four American Adults (72%) think stores start the Christmas season too early, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 19% disagree. (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 November 17-18, 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.

November 19, 2014

27% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

For the third consecutive week, 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 November 16.
  
This finding has 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 November 10-16, 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.

November 19, 2014

37% Think Now's A Good Time to Put A Home on the Market

Americans still believe in the value of a home as a family investment, and they remain more confident that now is a good time to sell.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of American Adults say buying a home is the best investment most families can make. Twenty-seven percent (27%) disagree, but 20% are not sure. This is generally in line with surveys over the past five 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 or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on November 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

November 19, 2014

Americans Plan on Spending More This Holiday Season

Americans are in a more generous mood this holiday season, but they’re off to a slower start when it comes to shopping.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 34% of American Adults have started their holiday shopping already. That’s down slightly from 37% a year ago at this time but a bit better than the 32% who had already begun shopping in mid-November 2012. Sixty-three percent (63%) haven’t got started yet. (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 November 17-18, 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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November 19, 2014

Control Freaks by John Stossel

Control freaks want to run your life. They call themselves "public servants." But whether student council president, environmental bureaucrat or member of Congress, most believe they know how to run your life better than you do.

November 19, 2014

Inflation Worries Remain High

Most adults continue to be concerned about inflation but show slightly more confidence in the Federal Reserve to control it.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of American Adults are still concerned about inflation. Just 22% are not. These findings include 36% who are Very Concerned and just four percent (4%) 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 or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on November 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.