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May 16, 2014

36% Favor Pulling U.S. Troops From Western Europe

As tensions remain high with Russia, voters are narrowly divided over whether the United States should pull its troops from Western Europe. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 36% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should remove troops from Western Europe and let the Europeans defend themselves. Thirty-nine percent (39%) oppose removing U.S. troops from Western Europe. One-in-four (25%) 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 May 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.

May 16, 2014

Most Workers Like Their Boss

Most Americans look forward to going to work perhaps in large part because they like the people they work with.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of working Americans rate their boss or supervisor as good or excellent, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just nine percent (9%) give their boss poor marks. This shows 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 612 Working Americans was conducted on May 12-13, 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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May 16, 2014

Harvest of Shame: America's Poisoned Children Need a Hashtag By Joe Conason

More than 50 years ago, CBS correspondent Edward R. Murrow revealed to America the awful conditions suffered by migrant farm laborers in "Harvest of Shame," an angry documentary that would become a classic. While conditions have improved for some of the families whose work provides our cornucopia of affordable food, there remains a special group of workers that our political system refuses to protect: the children who pick tobacco.

On May 14, Human Rights Watch issued Tobacco's Hidden Children -- a stunning report on child labor in the tobacco fields of North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. Interviewing kids in the fields who ranged in age from 7 to 17, the organization's researchers compiled their dismal stories of backbreaking work, inadequate water and toilet facilities, and worst of all, the chronic illness brought on by poisoning from nicotine and pesticides.

May 16, 2014

Nebraska Senate: Sasse (R) 51%, Domina (D) 34%

Republican primary winner Ben Sasse still holds a 17-point lead over Democratic opponent David Domina in Nebraska’s U.S. Senate race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Nebraska Voters finds Sasse with 51% support to Domina’s 34%. Five percent (5%) like 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 Nebraska was conducted on May 14-15, 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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May 16, 2014

The Revolt of the Wingers in British and American Politics By Michael Barone

In recent times, British and American politics have often flowed in parallel currents.   

May 16, 2014

45% Say Reducing Income Gap More Important Than Free Market Competition

For the first time, more voters think reducing the income gap between rich and poor is more important than encouraging free market competition. But when asked about each separately, voters still place higher importance on a free market.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of Likely U.S. Voters believe policies that allow and encourage free market competition are at least somewhat important, including 48% who consider them Very Important. Just 12% don’t consider such policies important, with two percent (2%) who say they are 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 April 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.

May 15, 2014

43% Rarely or Never Contact the Office While on Vacation

More American workers than ever plan on using all of their vacation time this year, and fewer are connecting with work while they are away.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 61% of Employed Adults plan to use all of their vacation time this year, while 24% do not. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here).

May 15, 2014

What America Thinks: Work Won’t Come Easy for New Grads

The economy is always on the top of Americans' minds, especially now, with college commencement ceremonies taking place across the country. As graduation day and the pressure of entering a challenging job market approach, we decided to find out what America thinks.

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May 15, 2014

Fox News and GOP Are Not in the Same Business By Froma Harrop

The curtain has dropped on the tale of Cliven Bundy, the Nevada rancher famous for refusing to pay grazing fees for use of public land. He became a hero to anti-government zealots who oddly failed to see this second helping of taxpayer largesse (the modest fees he didn't pay already reflected a government subsidy) as the action of a taker, not a maker.

May 15, 2014

41% Think Commercial Use of Drones Makes Flying Less Safe in U.S.

Americans worry that the increased commercial use of drones is making flying riskier in the United States and see a need for more government regulation of the unmanned aircraft. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the increasing use of unmanned drones in this country makes flying less safe. Thirty-four percent (34%) disagree, but 25% 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 May 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.

May 15, 2014

77% Say Losing a Wallet Worse Than Losing a Cell Phone

Despite the fact that most Americans use a mobile phone several times a day or more, most still think losing their wallet is scarier than losing their phone.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 82% of American Adults who own a mobile phone use it to make calls, send text messages and e-mails or use the Internet at least once a day. That includes 13% who use their phone every hour, and another 13% who do so constantly. Seventeen percent (17%) rarely or never use their mobile phone. (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 May 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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May 15, 2014

Notes on the State of Politics By Kyle Kondik

It’s become clear over the past few months that Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR), despite the increasing Republican lean of his state, has been holding his own, or better, against Rep. Tom Cotton (R, AR-4). Several positive polls for the incumbent, including a too-optimistic 11-point lead from NBC/Marist earlier this week, moved the HuffPost Pollster average in the race to 45.2% Pryor, 42.7% Cotton.

May 14, 2014

29% Say U.S. is Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-nine (29%) 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 May 10.

This is up two points from 27% the week before, the lowest level of optimism since early December. The number who say the country is heading in the right direction had been in the narrow range of 28% to 30% for 17 out of the 21 weeks since then.

(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 May 5-May 10, 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.

May 14, 2014

62% Look Forward to Going to Work

The number of employed Americans who put in more than 40 hours a week on the job has increased since a year ago, but most still say they look forward to going to work each day.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 28% of Working Americans say they work a 40-hour week. Thirty-eight percent (38%) work more than that, with 10% who work more than 50 hours a week.  (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 612 Working Americans was conducted on May 12-13, 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.

May 14, 2014

24% Support Warrantless Mobile Phone Searches By Police

The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments on whether police must obtain a warrant to search data on the cell phone of a person under arrest. Most Americans oppose warrantless searches of mobile phones, and those who use their phone for financial transactions are even more firmly opposed. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 24% of American Adults believe that if police arrest someone for any offense, they should be allowed to search that individual’s mobile phone without a warrant. Sixty-seven percent (67%) disagree and don’t think police should be allowed to conduct a warrantless search of a suspect's phone. (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 May 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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May 14, 2014

Marriage: It's Complicated By John Stossel

It's wedding season! More Americans get married in June than in other months. Why June? The timing seems pretty arbitrary if you look up its history.

May 14, 2014

Only 28% Think Most College Graduates Have Enough Skills to Get A Job

Most Americans think the main reason for going to college is to improve one's job skills but don't think most graduates leave college with the skills to get a job. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults think the primary purpose of attending college is to learn the skills needed to get a better job, down slightly from April of last year. Thirty-three percent (33%) don't see that as the main purpose of a college education. Eleven percent (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 national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on May 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.

May 13, 2014

59% Favor Strict Sanctions on Those Who Employ Illegal Immigrants

While official Washington, D.C. debates the need for immigration reform, most voters continue to believe as they have for years that gaining control of the border is the most pressing need. They also remain strongly supportive of punishing those who hire illegal immigrants.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely U.S. Voters believe gaining control of the border is more important than legalizing the status of undocumented workers already living in this country. Thirty-four percent (34%) consider legalizing the status of existing illegal immigrants more important. (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 May 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.

May 13, 2014

40% Think U.S. Should Do More to Rescue Nigerian Schoolgirls

The plight of the Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamic terrorists has captured the attention of the American public, with voters much more supportive of helping rescue the girls than they are of further U.S. involvement in Ukraine or Syria.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters think the U.S. government should do more to help rescue the nearly 300 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Islamic terror group Boko Haram in Nigeria. Twenty-seven percent (27%) oppose further U.S. involvement, while 33% 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 May 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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May 13, 2014

Monica Lewinsky, Grace in Humiliation By Froma Harrop

How refreshing to hear Monica Lewinsky recount the depth of her shame. When it was revealed in 1998 that she had provided then-President Clinton with oral sex, Lewinsky now writes in Vanity Fair, she "was arguably the most humiliated person in the world."