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August 22, 2014

Americans Still Think A Home is Family’s Best Investment

Over half of Americans continue to say a home is a family's best investment, but more think it is not a good time for someone in their area to be selling their home.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of American Adults now say that buying a home is the best investment most families can make, down slightly from July. Twenty-six percent (26%) disagree, while 22% are undecided. These are generally in line with findings for the past few 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 August 17-18, 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.

August 21, 2014

38% Think the Economy Is Fair

Most voters still view the U.S. economy as unfair.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 38% of Likely U.S. Voters think the economy today is at least somewhat fair, and that includes only five percent (5%) who view it as Very Fair. Fifty-six percent (56%) feel the economy is not fair, with 19% who say it is Not At All Fair. This is generally in line with findings for the past year. In 2012 and the first half of last year, the number who thought the economy was fair generally ran in the mid-40s. (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 August 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.

August 21, 2014

Connecticut Governor: Foley (R) 45%, Malloy (D) 38%

Incumbent Democrat Dan Malloy is trailing Republican challenger Thomas Foley by seven points in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at their gubernatorial rematch.

Foley picks up 45% of the vote to Malloy’s 38% in a new statewide telephone survey of Likely Connecticut Voters. Seven percent (7%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and 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 750 Likely Voters in Connecticut was conducted on August 18-19, 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.

August 21, 2014

Should Local Schools Admit the Latest Illegal Immigrants?

School districts around the country are beginning to discover where the Obama administration has moved many of the new illegal immigrants, but most voters don’t believe these youngsters should be allowed to attend local schools.

Thirty-two percent (32%) of Likely U.S. Voters think these illegal immigrants should be allowed to enroll in local public schools this fall, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-three percent (53%) disagree and say they should not be permitted to attend local schools. Fourteen percent (14%) 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 August 16-17, 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.

August 21, 2014

West Virginia Senate: Capito (R) 50%, Tennant (D) 33%

Is the West Virginia Senate race turning into a rout?

(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 West Virginia was conducted on August 19-20, 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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August 21, 2014

Is Ferguson a Social Media Victim? By Froma Harrop

Soon the cameras, protesters, gawkers and tweeters will depart Ferguson, Missouri, leaving the question: What will be left of this embattled city when the smoke clears?   

August 21, 2014

Voters Pass On Chance to Tell Congress What They Think

Voters complain that their congressional representatives don't listen to them, but very few are likely to attend a local meeting held by any of those representatives during the current August recess. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 14% of Likely U.S. Voters have attended or are likely to attend a town hall meeting held by one of their local representatives while Congress is in recess. That’s down slightly from 18% this time last year. (To see 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 August 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.

August 20, 2014

Most Still Don’t Support Government Help on Mortgage Payments

Most homeowners have not been late on a mortgage payment recently and don’t expect to be anytime soon. But for those who are still struggling to make their payments, most Americans don’t think the government should step in and help.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 24% of American Adults believe that if someone cannot afford to make increased mortgage payments, the government should assist them. That’s up slightly from June’s low of 21% but similar to findings earlier in the year. Most (63%) still think people in that situation should sell their home and find a less expensive one. Thirteen percent (13%) are not sure. This is in line with regular surveying since the spring of 2010. (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 640 Adult Homeowners and 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 17-18, 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.

August 20, 2014

Montana Senate: Daines (R) 55%, Curtis (D) 35%

New Democratic candidate Amanda Curtis has a long way to go to keep Republicans from claiming one of Montana’s U.S. Senate seats this year. (To see 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 Montana was conducted on August 18-19, 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.

August 20, 2014

Despite Justice Department Challenges, Most Still Favor Voter ID Laws

A federal judge in North Carolina recently struck down the latest challenge by the U.S. Justice Department to a state law that requires voters to bring photo identification to the polls. Voters continue to strongly support voter ID laws and don't consider them discriminatory.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of Likely U.S. Voters believe all voters should be required to prove their identity before being allowed to vote. Nineteen percent (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 Likely Voters was conducted on August 14-15, 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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August 20, 2014

Policing a Riot By John Stossel

Libertarians warned for years that government is force, that government always grows and that America's police have become too much like an occupying army.

We get accused of being paranoid, but we look less paranoid after heavily armed police in Ferguson, Missouri, tear gassed peaceful protesters, arrested journalists and stopped some journalists from entering the town.

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August 20, 2014

Missouri Burning: Why Ferguson's Inferno Is No Surprise By Joe Conason

The past week's unfolding tragedy in Ferguson, Missouri, with its militarized and overwhelmingly white police force confronting angry and hopeless African-Americans, is not a story unique to that place or this moment. Many cities and towns in this country confront the same problems of poverty, alienation and inequality as metropolitan St. Louis -- or even worse.

But beneath the familiar narrative, there is a deeper history that reflects the unfinished agenda of race relations -- and the persistence of poisonous prejudice that has never been fully cleansed from the American mainstream.

August 20, 2014

Voters, Feds Have Competing Immigration Agendas

Where are the feds when you need them? An increasing majority of voters believes gaining control of the border is the most important immigration reform needed, but they still think the federal government encourages illegal immigration instead.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of Likely U.S. Voters think gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers already living in the United States. This is up slightly from 58% in May but is the highest level of support for border control in over two years.Thirty-three percent (33%) believe it’s more important to legalize those already living here, but that's at a two-year low. (To see 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 August 14-15, 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.

August 19, 2014

New High: 43% Say U.S. Doesn’t Spend Enough on National Security

As tensions remain high with Russia and much of the Middle East, more voters than ever believe the United States is not putting enough money into national security.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States does not spend enough on the military and national security. This finding is up from 36% in May and is the highest finding in three years of regular tracking. Twenty-three percent (23%) still believe the United States spends too much on defense, but that's down 17 points from the record high of 40% in January 2013. Thirty percent (30%) say the amount spent in this area is about right. (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 August 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.

August 19, 2014

Confidence in Short-Term Housing Market Slips to 2014 Low

Homeowners are slightly less confident than they’ve been in over a year that their home’s value will increase in the short-term. Confidence in their home's current value has fallen back as well. Thirty-four percent (34%) of U.S. homeowners now think the value of their home will go up in the next year, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s down four points from July and is the lowest level of confidence measured since July of last year. Fourteen percent (14%) expect the value of their home to go down over the next year, while 48% still expect it to 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 640 Adult Homeowners was conducted on August 17-18, 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.

August 19, 2014

Minnesota Governor: Dayton (D) 49%, Johnson (R) 41%

Former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton has an eight-point advantage in his bid for a second term as governor of Minnesota.

(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 Minnesota was conducted on August 13-14, 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.

August 19, 2014

How Would the Media React If the Cop Was Black and the Victim Was White?

Most Americans think the media would be less interested in the incident in Ferguson, Missouri if a white teenager had been shot by a black police officer. They also reject the idea that most policemen are racist. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 35% of American Adults rate the media’s coverage of the police shooting and subsequent events in Ferguson as good or excellent. Twenty-three percent (23%) say the media have done a poor job covering the story. (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 August 15-16, 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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August 19, 2014

Racing Through Nature by Froma Harrop

The story of a young man's speed-hiking the 2,663-mile Pacific Crest Trail has raised some environmentalist eyebrows, albeit only slightly. He was racing from California's border with Mexico to Washington state's with Canada.

The cause was a good one -- to raise money for the families of cancer patients. And it wasn't like he was making noise and pollution.

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 2014 CREATORS.COM

August 19, 2014

47% Say A Family Member Has Been Diagnosed with Depression

The shocking suicide of comedian-actor Robin Williams has highlighted the dangers of clinical depression, and Americans strongly agree more needs to be done to identify and treat it. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 87% of American Adults think clinical depression is a serious problem in America today, with 52% who view it as a Very Serious one. Just six percent (6%) regard it as not very or Not At All Serious following Williams' death.(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 Adults nationwide was conducted August 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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August 19, 2014

Hillary Clinton Not Campaigning Much for her Party in 2014, Unlike Richard Nixon in 1966 By Michael Barone

Just about everyone noticed Hillary Clinton's scathing comments on President Obama's foreign policy in her interview with The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg.

But almost no one has noticed where Clinton hasn't been seen. That's on the campaign trail or at fundraisers for Democrats running for the Senate.