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November 11, 2014Two Hidden Factors in the 2014 Campaign by Michael Barone
Looking back on the 2014 election cycle, I see two largely unnoticed turning points that worked against Democrats and in Republicans' favor.
The first came in response to the October 2013 government shutdown. This was blamed, as shutdowns usually are, on Republicans, partly because of their skepticism about big government, and partly because media professionals tend to fault the GOP in any partisan fight.
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                            November 11, 2014Voters Say ‘No’ to Lame Duck Congress, ‘Maybe’ on Obama’s Nominees
The current Congress is expected to return this week for a final lame duck session, but most voters consider such sessions a waste of time. They’re almost evenly divided over whether any of President Obama’s nominations should be handled by this Congress or put off until the next one. 
Fifty-one percent (51%) of Likely U.S. Voters agree that the time between Election Day and the swearing-in of the new Congress should be shorter, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Thirty-two percent (32%) disagree and think the current two-month wait is fine. Seventeen percent (17%) 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 nationwide was conducted on November 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.
November 11, 2014There's Something About Paper by Froma Harrop
Interesting that the tech website CNET has started publishing an old-fashioned magazine -- you know, on paper, like Time and Life. To complete the retro circle, CNET's periodical is carrying print ads for Ford, Gillette and other brands already at home in the "Mad Men" era.
But wasn't the digital technology that CNET touts supposed to do away with paper? Parent company CBS Interactive explains the seeming contradiction: The magazine simply gives people yet another way to get at CNET's wares.

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                            November 10, 2014Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 42%, Democrats 41%
In a survey taken the week they won full control of the U.S. Congress, Republicans hold a one-point lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending November 9 finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district's congressional race if the election were held today, while 41% would choose the Democrat.

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                            November 10, 2014Just 10% Think It’s Good That bin Laden’s Killer Has Gone Public
Americans don’t think it’s great for the country that the Navy SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden has identified himself to the public, but they also don’t believe the government should be able to shut him up.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 10% of American Adults think it’s good for U.S. national security that former Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill is now saying publicly that he killed bin Laden, the Islamic terrorist mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Thirty-four percent (34%) say it’s bad for national security that he has gone public with his story, while slightly more (37%) say it will have no impact. Nineteen percent (19%) 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 orFacebook. 
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 7-8, 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 10, 2014Terrorists, Not U.S., Winning War on Terror
The number of voters who think the United States is winning the War on Terror continues to fall to new lows, and more than ever they see a terrorist attack as the biggest threat to the nation.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States and its allies are winning the War on Terror, a new all-time low. In July, belief that the United States is winning the War on Terror plummeted eight points to 27%, its lowest level in over 10 years of regular tracking. 
 
This figure hit a high of 62% in February 2009 just after President Obama’s inauguration, then steadily deteriorated until the killing of Osama bin Laden in May 2011 when it rebounded into the 50s. Thirty-six percent (36%) think the terrorists are winning that war.  A third (33%) say neither side is winning. (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 April 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 10, 2014Confidence in U.S. Job Market Jumps
More Americans than ever now believe it is possible for anyone in need of a job to land one.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of American Adults say it is possible for anyone who really wants to work to find a job. That’s up from 52% in July and the highest level measured in over five years of regular tracking. Twenty-eight percent (28%) disagree and don’t think it’s possible for anyone who wants to work to land a job, while 11% 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 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.

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                            November 10, 2014Voters Doubt Obama, GOP Congress Can Work Together
Voters question whether President Obama set the right tone in his first press conference after Election Day, and most aren’t optimistic about his working relationship with the new Republican congressional majority.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 24% of Likely U.S. Voters are at least somewhat confident that the president and the new Republican majority in Congress can work together and do what’s best for the American people. Seventy-three percent (73%) lack that confidence. This includes just six percent (6%) who are Very Confident the two sides can work together and 33% 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 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on November 6-7, 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 10, 2014Are Voters A Little Less Unhappy with Obamacare?
Unfavorables for the new national health care law have fallen slightly to their lowest level in over a year, even as voters express less support for outright repeal and more support for tinkering with the law to improve it.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters now have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Obamacare, consistent with surveying since early 2013. Fifty percent (50%) still view the law unfavorably, but that’s down from 53% two weeks ago and the lowest finding since mid-October of last year.
This includes 19% with a Very Favorable view of the law and twice as many (37%) with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 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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                            November 9, 2014Most Americans Aren’t Fans of Plastic Surgery
Following the strong reaction to Oscar-winning actress Renée Zellweger’s noticeably altered appearance, Americans don’t particularly like the increased use of cosmetic surgery and procedures, though one-in-five would at least consider going under the knife.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 17% of American Adults favor the increasing use of plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections in this country. Forty-nine percent (49%) are opposed, but another 34% 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 and Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 3-4, 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 8, 2014What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls: Week Ending Nov 8
Now America’s in the eye of a hurricane. The storm of Election 2014 is over, and we have a little calm until the new Republican Congress and our lame duck president face each other down beginning in January.
There were 36 Senate races this fall. We projected a GOP takeover of the Senate on Monday. Here’s a state-by-state post-election look at how we did in our Senate surveying.

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                            November 7, 2014Most Aren't Willing To Pay More to Keep Medicare Afloat
Even though voters still generally regard Medicare as a good deal for working Americans, only a third are willing to pay more in taxes to allow it to continue as is.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Medicare, with 19% who have a Very Favorable view of the federal health care program for retirees. Thirty-three percent (33%) regard Medicare unfavorably, but that includes only nine percent (9%) with a Very Unfavorable opinion. This is little changed from surveys for the past three 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 4-5, 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 7, 2014Americans Say Private Sector Works Harder Than Government Employees
Americans continue to believe that private sector employees work harder than government workers. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just nine percent (9%) of Americans believe government employees work harder than those in the private sector, unchanged from September. Sixty-one percent (61%) think private sector employees work harder. This finding is down eight points from previous survey and is the lowest finding since September 2013. Thirty percent (30%) are not sure, up seven points from September. (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 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 1-2, 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 7, 2014Americans Enjoy Their Booze
Just over a third of Americans still say they drink alcohol at least once a week, and those that do imbibe do so out of enjoyment rather than social obligation.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 35% of American Adults drink alcohol at least once a week. That includes 10% who say they drink about once a week, 17% who drink several times a week and eight percent (8%) who have a drink every day or nearly every day. That’s similar to findings a year ago, though the number who drink more than once a week is up slightly since then. Six percent (6%) say they drink several times a month, while 23% drink occasionally. Thirty-five percent (35%) say they rarely or never drink alcohol, showing little change from last year. (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 5-6, 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 7, 20142014 Midterm Elections: How Did We Do in the Governor’s Races?
There were governor’s races in 36 states this fall, and as usual we polled them all. But as in the case of the Senate races, the ones that we determined were not competitive were only polled once or twice at most.
A couple states we didn’t revisit for this reason surprised us. Democratic nominee Anthony Brown seemed a shoo-in in July in deep blue Maryland, but Republican hopeful Larry Hogan picked up momentum in October and won instead. In Vermont, incumbent Democrat Peter Shumlin is ahead as we expected, but since neither candidate got more than 50% of the vote, the state legislature will make the final decision.
November 7, 2014The Shrinkage of the Obama Majority by Michael Barone
Some observations on the election:
(1) This was a wave, folks. It will be a benchmark for judging waves, for either party, for years.
Michael Barone, senior political analyst at the Washington Examiner, (www.washingtonexaminer.com), where this article first appeared, is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a Fox News Channel contributor and a co-author of The Almanac of American Politics. To find out more about Michael Barone, and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2014 THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM
See Other Political Commentary. 
See Other Commentaries by Michael Barone.
ations on the election:

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                            November 7, 201459% Think New GOP Congress Likely to Be A Disappointment
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss? The ink’s scarcely dry on Tuesday’s ballots, and most voters already expect the new Republican majority in Congress will let them down.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that most voters will be disappointed with Republicans in Congress before the 2016 elections. That includes 36% who say it’s Very Likely.
Just 26% consider it unlikely that the new congressional GOP will be a disappointment to most voters, with seven percent (7%) who say it is Not At All Likely. Fifteen percent (15%) 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 U.S. Voters was conducted on November 4-5, 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 7, 2014Yup, It Was a Wave By Larry J. Sabato, Kyle Kondik and Geoffrey Skelley
It might not have been 1994 or 2010, but 2014 was a wave all its own: A late-breaking surge that lifted Republicans to some surprisingly strong performances across the country.
Notably, though, the argument for this election being a “wave” has more to do with the House and gubernatorial races, as opposed to the main event, the Republican Senate takeover.
The GOP is likely to bump up its House majority to its highest total since the one it held after the 1928 election, netting at least a dozen additional House seats.
November 7, 2014Beneath the Republican Wave, Voters Still Reject Right-Wing Ideology By Joe Conason
In the wake of the 2014 midterm "wave election," Americans will soon find out whether they actually want what they have wrought. The polls tell us that too many voters are weary of President Barack Obama, including a significant number who actually voted for him two years ago. Polls likewise suggest that most voters today repose more trust in Republicans on such fundamental issues as economic growth, national security and budget discipline. But do they want what Republicans in control will do now?

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                            November 6, 2014New High: 35% Say Job Market Better Than a Year Ago
As voters headed to the polls this week to express their displeasure with the White House and Congress, Americans were also expressing more optimism in the job market than they have in years. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 35% of American Adults believe the job market is better than it was a year ago. That is up five points from September and is the highest level measured in more than four years of regular tracking. Twenty-three percent (23%) say the job market is worse than it was a year ago, also the lowest negative assessment on record. Another 39% believe the situation 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 and Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on November 1-2, 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.