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                            October 30, 2014Americans Favor Halloween Costumes, Candy in School
Some schools continue to prohibit Halloween costumes and candy, and most Americans still disagree with these policies.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% of American Adults believe children should be allowed to wear Halloween costumes in class. This is up from 63% last year. Twenty-one percent (21%) 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 American Adults was conducted on October 26-27, 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 30, 2014Arkansas Governor: Hutchinson (R) 50%, Ross (D) 43%
Republican Asa Hutchinson has extended his lead over Democrat Mike Ross in the race to be Arkansas’ next governor.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Arkansas Voters shows Hutchinson with 50% support to Ross’ 43%. Three percent (3%) like some other candidate, and four percent (4%) 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 967 Likely Voters in Arkansas was conducted on October 27-29, 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 30, 2014North Carolina Senate: Hagan (D) 47%, Tillis (R) 46%
Kay Hagan, long viewed as perhaps the Senate’s most endangered Democrat, is still hanging in there in the closing days of North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race.
(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 982 Likely Voters in North Carolina was conducted on October 28-29, 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 30, 2014Arkansas Senate: Cotton (R) 51%, Pryor (D) 44%
The clock is running out for Democrat Mark Pryor to keep from losing his U.S. Senate seat in Arkansas to Republican Congressman Tom Cotton.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Arkansas Voters shows Cotton with 51% of the vote to Pryor’s 44%. Four percent (4%) like some other candidate in the race, and two percent (2%) 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 967 Likely Voters in Arkansas was conducted on October 27-29, 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 30, 2014Fannie and Freddie Must Go by Froma Harrop
Say we didn't hear that. Say we didn't hear that rules for mortgages guaranteed by the taxpayers are going lax once again.
October 30, 2014Bet on a Republican Senate Majority By Larry J. Sabato, Kyle Kondik and Geoffrey Skelley
While many races remain close, it’s just getting harder and harder to envision a plausible path for the Democrats to retain control of the Senate. Ultimately, with just a few days to go before the election, the safe bet would be on Republicans eventually taking control of the upper chamber.
We say eventually because there’s a decent chance we won’t know who wins the Senate on Election Night. Louisiana is guaranteed to go to a runoff, and Georgia seems likelier than not to do the same. The Georgia runoff would be Jan. 6, 2015, three days after the 114th Congress is scheduled to open. Vote-counting in some states, like Alaska, will take days, and other races are close enough to trigger a recount.

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                            October 30, 2014Should Obama Campaign in Your State?
Voters are evenly divided when asked if President Obama is a plus or a minus to political candidates in their states. But Republicans attach a lot more importance than Democrats do to whether a candidate voted for the president in 2012.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters think candidates running for reelection in their state should remind voters of their support for the president’s agenda. Another 39% say they should distance themselves from Obama. But a sizable 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 Likely Voters was conducted on October 25-26, 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 29, 201426% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Twenty-six percent (26%) 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 October 26.
  
The number who say the country is heading in the right direction is unchanged from a week ago. This finding has now been in the 23% to 27% range nearly every week since early June and has been below 30% most weeks for the past 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 on October 20-26, 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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                            October 29, 2014Georgia Governor: Deal (R) 49%, Carter (D) 43%
Republican Governor Nathan Deal is holding on to a six-point lead over Democratic challenger Jason Carter in the final week of his reelection campaign in Georgia and leads by the same margin in a hypothetical runoff contest.
Deal now picks up 49% of the vote to Carter’s 43% in the latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Georgia Voters. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while six percent (6%) 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 977 Likely Voters in Georgia was conducted on October 25-27, 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 29, 2014Georgia Senate: Perdue (R) 46%, Nunn (D) 46%
Is Georgia heading toward a U.S. Senate runoff like Louisiana?
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Georgia Voters finds Republican David Perdue and Democrat Michelle Nunn tied with 46% support each. Three percent (3%) like another candidate in the race, and five percent (5%) are undecided.
(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 977 Likely Voters in Georgia was conducted on October 25-27, 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 29, 2014Voters Strongly Support Quarantines, State Action to Fight Ebola
Voters overwhelming support quarantines on health workers who have had contact with Ebola and think states should be able to take steps on their own to fight the deadly virus if they feel the federal government isn’t doing enough.
Seventy percent (70%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor quarantining for up to 21 days all health workers who return to this country after having contact with Ebola patients in Africa, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 19% oppose quarantining these individuals for the period the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says will determine whether or not they have Ebola. Eleven percent (11%) 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 October 27-28, 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.
October 29, 2014Incumbents Always Win By John Stossel
I'm told that the public is "angry" at today's politicians. Eighty-two percent disapprove of the job Congress is doing. So will Tuesday's election bring a big shakeup? 
No. Congressional reelection rates never drop below 85 percent. 
The last big "wave" election was 1994, when Democrats lost control of both houses. The media called it a "revolution," and the late Peter Jennings from ABC likened Americans to 2-year-olds throwing a tantrum. 

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                            October 29, 201467% Say Colleges Are Better Known For Sports Than Academics
Most Americans think college sports run the show and have too much influence over educational institutions.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of American Adults think college athletics have too much power and influence over colleges and universities. That’s unchanged from May 2013, but down from 71% in July 2012 just after the Penn State football scandal. Sixteen percent (16%) disagree, but 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 24-25, 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 29, 2014South Dakota Senate: Rounds (R) 45%, Weiland (D) 31%, Pressler (I) 20%
Another situation like Kansas appears unlikely in South Dakota where Republican Mike Rounds is now holding off an independent challenger and has a double-digit lead over Democrat Rick Weiland in the final week of the state's U.S. Senate race.
Rounds now picks up 45% of the vote to Weiland’s 31% in a new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely South Dakota Voters. Republican-turned-Independent Larry Pressler captures 21% of the vote. Three percent (3%) are undecided 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 750 Likely Voters in South Dakota was conducted on June 4-5, 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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                            October 28, 20148% Think Congress is Doing a Good Job
There's one week left till midterm elections, and voters continue to express their displeasure with the current Congress.
 
 A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just eight percent (8%) of Likely U.S. Voters think Congress is doing a good or excellent job, unchanged from last month. Sixty-two percent (62%) rate Congress' performance as 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 October 23-24, 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 28, 2014Colorado Governor: Beauprez (R) 49%, Hickenlooper (D) 47%
It appears that Colorado’s gubernatorial race is set to be a photo finish.
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Colorado Voters shows Republican challenger Bob Beauprez picking up 49% of the vote to incumbent Democrat John Hickenlooper’s 47%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, while two percent (2%) 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 966 Likely Voters in Colorado was conducted on October 21-23, 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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                            October 28, 2014Louisiana Senate: Landrieu (D) 43%, Cassidy (R) 36%, Maness (R) 13%
With one week left until Election Day, Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu has pulled further ahead of Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy in Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race, but does it matter? A runoff seems more likely.
Landrieu needs at least 50% plus one to be reelected, and she now picks up 43% of the vote to Cassidy’s 36% in the latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Louisiana Voters. Another Republican, Tea Party favorite Rob Maness, earns 13% support, while three percent (3%) prefer one of the other candidates in the race.  Six percent (6%) 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 988 Likely Voters in Louisiana was conducted on October 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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                            October 28, 2014Whites Are Much More Likely Than Blacks to See A Divided America
Going into Election Day, white voters are nearly twice as likely as blacks to believe America is a more divided nation than it was four years ago. For one-in-three of all voters, President Obama is what this election is all about.
Sixty-one percent (61%) of Likely U.S. Voters say America is a more divided nation than it was at the time of the last midterm elections in 2010, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s down slightly from 67% in mid-July. Nine percent (9%) say the nation is less divided now, while 28% believe the level of division 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 25-26, 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 28, 2014Reagan's Campaign Speech Continues to Reverberate 50 Years Later by Michael Barone
On Oct. 27, 1964, 50 years ago Monday, a movie actor and television host delivered a 30-minute speech on primetime national television in support of the presidential candidacy of Barry Goldwater.

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                            October 28, 2014Americans Don't Want to Pay More Taxes for Schools
Just one-in-three Americans rate the performance of the nation's schools positively, but most are not willing to pay more taxes in order to generate additional money for schools.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 30% of American Adults rate the performance of elementary and secondary schools in America today as good or excellent. Forty-three percent (43%) rate schools as being fair, while 24% rate them poorly.  (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 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.