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                            October 15, 2014Louisiana Senate: Landrieu (D) 41%, Cassidy (R) 38%, Maness (R) 14%
Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu has edged slightly ahead of Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy in Louisiana’s nail biter of a Senate race, but Cassidy holds a wide advantage if the race goes to a runoff.
Landrieu now picks up 41% of the vote to Cassidy’s 38% in the latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Louisiana Voters. Another Republican, Tea Party favorite Rob Maness, earns 14% support, while two percent (2%) prefer one of the other candidates in the race.  Five percent (5%) 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 965 Likely Voters in Louisiana was conducted on October 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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                            October 15, 2014Tea Party Is Still Most Toxic Political Label
Many pundits have suggested that America is now a 50-50 nation politically, and a look at how voters react to political labels suggests that may be true. Being linked to the Tea Party is still the worst thing you can say about a candidate, but Republicans don’t agree.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that roughly the same number of Likely U.S. Voters consider it a positive description if a candidate is called a conservative (31%), a moderate (33%) or a progressive (30%).
Twenty-five percent (25%) think it’s a negative description to be called a conservative, while 39% rate it somewhere in between. Slightly more (28%) believe it’s a negative to be called a progressive, the label liberals have adopted to get out from under the “L” word, but 34% say it’s somewhere in between. As for moderate, only 15% view it as a negative description, while 48% see it as somewhere in between positive and negative. (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 Likely Voters was conducted on October 13-14, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.
October 15, 2014Crumbling Constitution by John Stossel
Does the Constitution still matter?

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                            October 15, 201448% Won’t Pay More For Fast Food To Raise Minimum Wage
Americans enjoy having it their way. Fast-food restaurants have been in the news lately because of protests to raise the minimum wage, but Americans who regularly eat at these restaurants aren't willing to pay more for their food to raise the pay of their workers.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 27% of American Adults rarely or never eat at fast-food restaurants. But 50% eat at such restaurants at least two to three times a month. This includes 27% who eat fast food at least once a week, up from 13% in August of last year. Twenty-four percent (24%) say they eat at a fast-food restaurant every now and then. (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 October 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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                            October 14, 201443% Think Raising Minimum Wage Will Help Economy
President Obama is trying to raise the federal minimum wage from the current $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour, and most Americans are on board.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that most American Adults (61%) favor raising the minimum wage from its current level of $7.25 an hour, which many states and the District of Columbia have already done. One-in-three (30%) oppose raising the minimum wage. (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 October 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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                            October 14, 2014TV's Still Tops for Voters When It Comes to Political News
Voters still turn to TV over the Internet when it comes to political news, but the gap is narrowing. However, regardless of the source, voters are skeptical about the political news they are getting.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters are most likely to get their political news from television, while 30% are more likely to use the Internet. Just nine percent (9%) say they usually get their political fix from newspapers or magazines, while seven percent (7%) turn to talk radio. Five percent (5%) get their political news predominately from social media. (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 Likely Voters was conducted on October 9-10, 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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                            October 14, 2014Alaska Senate: Sullivan (R) 48%, Begich (D) 45%
Republican challenger Dan Sullivan still has the edge on Democratic incumbent Mark Begich in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Alaska Voters shows Sullivan earning 48% of the vote to Begich’s 45%. Three percent (3%) like some other candidate in the race, and another 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 700 Likely Voters in Alaska was conducted on October 8-12, 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.
October 14, 2014Will Independent Candidates' Support Dissipate in Kansas and South Dakota? By Michael Barone
One question I'm asked in every electoral cycle is, "What are the surprise races in this election?" My answer in recent years has been, "There are no surprises, because any unexpected development becomes universally known in seconds."   

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                            October 14, 2014Voters Say State Electoral Debates Are Important, But Don’t Change Their Mind
As the midterm election season enters the final stretch, most voters consider debates important to their vote and good indicators of where the candidates stand. But for the majority, a debate has never changed the way they ultimately decided to vote.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of Likely U.S. Voters think that, in terms of how they will vote, debates between candidates for statewide office are at least somewhat important, including 35% who consider them Very Important. Just 23% say such debates are not important to their vote, including six percent (6%) who say they’re 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 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.
October 14, 2014Castrating Conservative Principles in Iowa By Froma Harrop
There exists a government boondoggle that offends conservatives, liberals, environmentalists, oil refiners, cattle ranchers and taxpayers alike. It's not easy to get that kind of Kumbaya going, but the corn-based ethanol program has done it.
This has put Joni Ernst, the tea party favorite for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat, in an awkward position. The Republican has vowed to both end government subsidies and preserve the freight loads of taxpayer dollars chugging into Iowa's corn belt in the name of ethanol.
Her footwork goes as follows: She says she'll end this subsidy when every other subsidy in the American universe also gets the ax. And, she forgot to add, when Martians colonize Neptune.

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                            October 14, 2014Americans Endorse Euthanasia – and A Life Beyond
The decision of a 29-year-old California woman with terminal cancer to end her life has cast the spotlight again on states that allow voluntary assisted suicide. Americans by a near two-to-one margin support the practice known as voluntary euthanasia, but most also believe there is life after death.
Three U.S. states now allow voluntary euthanasia or medically assisted suicide for those who are terminally ill, and 50% of American Adults favor this practice. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 27% are opposed, but nearly as many (23%) 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 American Adults was conducted on October 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.

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                            October 13, 2014Should We Still Celebrate Columbus Day?
“In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” Most Americans know this, but they’re not as sure we should still be celebrating his journey as a national holiday.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just eight percent (8%) of American Adults consider Columbus Day, which falls today, one of our nation’s most important holidays. Forty-five percent (45%) consider it one of the least important holidays, while 43% think it’s somewhere in between. That’s in line with surveys since 2007. (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 October 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.

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                            October 13, 2014Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 40%, Republicans 40%
Democrats and Republicans are tied on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot with three weeks to go until Election Day.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending October 12 finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while the same number (40%) would choose the Republican.
(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 October 6-12, 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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                            October 13, 2014Iowa Senate: Ernst (R) 48%, Braley (D) 45%
Iowa’s closely watched U.S. Senate race remains a toss-up, but Republican Joni Ernst has edged slightly ahead of Democrat Bruce Braley with three weeks left until Election Day.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Iowa Voters finds Ernst picking up 48% of the vote to Braley’s 45%. One percent (1%) like another candidate, and five percent (5%) 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 957 Likely Voters in Iowa was conducted on October 8-10, 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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                            October 13, 2014Voters Report Hurtful Insurance Changes Under Health Care Law
The number of voters who say their health insurance coverage has changed because of the new health care law continues to increase, and the vast majority of those voters say the change has been for the worse.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 38% of Likely U.S. Voters now say their health insurance coverage has changed because of Obamacare. 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 October 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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                            October 11, 2014What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls: Week of October 12
Fewer than 30% have been saying all year that the country is headed in the right direction, and voters have some pretty definite ideas on what needs to be done. But rather than discuss the issues, too often political candidates go negative.

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                            October 10, 2014Most Say Negative Campaign Ads Have Negative Effect on Voting
Political candidates produce negative advertisements about their opponents to try to gain more votes, but it turns out that effort has the opposite effect. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of regular television viewers think most political advertising on TV attacks the opposing candidate. Just 14% say most political advertising simply promotes the candidate who is paying for it. Twenty-three percent (23%) 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 October 8-9, 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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                            October 10, 2014Maine Governor: LePage (R) 41%, Michaud (D) 40%, Cutler (I) 16%
Republican Governor Paul LePage has pulled ahead of Democratic Congressman Mike Michaud by one point in Maine's gubernatorial race. 
LePage picks up 41% of the vote to Michaud's 40% in a new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Maine Voters. Independent Eliot Cutler is in a distant third with 16% of the vote. One percent (1%) prefer another candidate in the race, while 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 930 Likely Voters in Maine was conducted on October 7-9, 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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                            October 10, 2014Americans Say Candidates Don’t Need Negativity to Win
Americans believe candidates don’t need to resort to criticizing their opponents and producing negative campaign ads to win an election.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults believe it is possible for a candidate to win an election without criticizing their opponent.  This finding is up from 49% in 2012 but still down from 64% in 2010. Twenty-five percent (25%) disagree, down from 39% in 2012. 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 October 8-9, 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.
October 10, 2014Ebola and the 41 Million Uninsured Americans By Froma Harrop
With the first diagnosed case of the deadly Ebola virus in the United States located in Dallas, Texans are understandably alarmed. The patient just died. Gov. Rick Perry has established a task force to address the Ebola threat.
Not a bad idea but still a feeble response coming from a governor who refused to expand Medicaid in his state, leaving millions of his people outside the health care system. About 6 million Texans are now walking around without health insurance. That's almost 1 in 4 residents -- the highest rate of uninsured in the country.