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                            December 9, 2013Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 43%, Democrats 38%
Republicans still hold a five-point lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending December 8.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Democrat instead.
(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 December 2-8, 2013. 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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                            December 9, 201354% Think More Focus on Mental Health Issues Will Prevent Future Newtown Incidents
One year after the school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, more Americans than ever believe tackling mental health issues is the best way to prevent such mass murders.A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of American Adults think more action to treat mental health issues will do the most to help reduce the number of mass shootings like the one in Connecticut. That's up six points from 48% in mid-December of last year.  Twenty-three percent (23%) believe stricter gun control laws will do the most, down from 27% a year ago, while 12% call first for limits on violent movies and video games. 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 national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 7-8, 2013 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.

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                            December 9, 201366% Think Long-Term Budget Deal to Avoid Another Shutdown Is Unlikely
Both sides insist a budget deal is near that will avoid another federal government shutdown, but most voters still want budget cuts and remain skeptical that such a deal is coming.
Just 12% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a federal budget that increases government spending, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-six percent (56%) prefer a long-term budget deal that cuts spending instead. Twenty-five percent (25%) want to keep federal spending 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 December 6-7, 2013 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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                            December 9, 2013Support for Government Health Insurance Requirements Is Down to 33%
Strong negative opinions of the new health care law are at their highest yet as opposition to the government requiring every insurance plan to cover the exact same set of medical procedures grows. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters now have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the health care law, while 56% view it at least somewhat unfavorably. The passion remains on the side of the opponents. The new findings include 19% with a Very Favorable view of the law, while 47% have 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 December 6-7, 2013 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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                            December 8, 201361% Expect Government Spending To Rise Under Obama
Belief that federal spending will go up under President Obama is at its highest level in three years, but most voters continue to think cuts in government spending are better for the economy.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of Likely U.S. Voters now expect government spending to rise under Obama. That's the highest finding on this question since November 2010. Just 14% think spending will go down. Twenty-one percent (21%) predict it will 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 4-5, 2013 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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                            December 7, 2013What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending December 7, 2013
President Obama got some good late-week news with the drop of the unemployment rate to a five-year low and better-than-projected economic growth in the third quarter. It remains to be seen whether these trends continue and offset the damage done by Obamacare’s disastrous debut.
December 6, 2013Consumer Finance Needs Better Morals by Froma Harrop
Drawing moral lines in our rough-and-tumble capitalist system can be hard. But it should not tax too many ethical muscles to set aside some protections for trusting, unsophisticated borrowers of modest means. That is, unless you're a politician working on behalf of predatory lenders.
And it's amazing how many politicians do, making the recent successes of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau seem all the more miraculous. The CFPB was created in 2010 to set rules of the road for consumer financial products -- mortgages, student loans, payday loans and such.
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 2013 CREATORS.COM

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                            December 6, 201366% Prefer ‘Merry Christmas’ Over ‘Happy Holidays’
Most Americans still prefer signs in stores that say "Merry Christmas" rather than ones with "Happy Holidays."
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 66% of American Adults prefer Merry Christmas. Just 21% like Happy Holidays instead. Thirteen percent (13%) 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 1000 American Adults was conducted on December 1-2, 2013 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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                            December 6, 201334% Think Gays Good for Military, 31% Disagree
Most voters believe the U.S. military is the best, but they are closely divided over the impact of letting gays and lesbians serve openly in America's armed services.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States has the best military in the world. Just 13% disagree, and 15% 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 December 2-3, 2013 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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                            December 6, 2013Looking Back: 68% Viewed Mandela Favorably
Rasmussen Reports asked Americans in February 2011 how they viewed then-92-year-old Nelson Mandela as he faced an earlier health crisis. Most Americans held the iconic South African leader who died Thursday in high regard. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 68% of American Adults shared a favorable opinion of Mandela, with 25% who viewed him Very Favorably. Twenty percent (20%) regarded Mandela unfavorably, but that included just six percent (6%) with a Very Unfavorable opinion. Twelve percent (12%) were 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 Adults was conducted on January 28-29, 2011 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.
December 6, 2013Obamacare's Architects Plugged Their Ears and Misled Public By Michael Barone
In 1970 the eccentric but insightful economist Albert Hirschman published a book called "Exit, Voice and Loyalty." It explored how people respond when a private firm's or a government agency's performance is deteriorating.

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                            December 6, 201352% View China As Long-Term Threat to U.S.
Vice President Joe Biden visited Beijing this week following the latest flare-up of tensions with China, but U.S. voters are less convinced these days that China is a national security threat. They also show little enthusiasm for President Obama’s proposed “Asia pivot,” shifting the focus of U.S. foreign policy from Europe and the Middle East to China and East Asia.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters still believe China is a long-term threat to the United States, but that’s down from 62% in late September 2011.Twenty-two percent (22%) feel the Asian giant is not a threat to America. But even more (26%) 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 December 4-5, 2013 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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                            December 6, 201343% Expect To Earn More A Year From Now
President Obama on Wednesday declared that growing income inequality in the United States is "the defining challenge of our time." The number of workers who consider themselves poor is at its highest point this year, but help may be on the way: The number who expect to be earning more a year from now matches its highest level in four-and-a-half years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that most Employed Adults (68%) still consider themselves to be middle class, with another 15% who say they are upper middle class. Just three percent (3%) consider themselves wealthy. Fourteen percent (14%) now say they are the working poor, up from 13% in October and the highest finding of the year. This finding was at its highest in May 2010, when 22% of workers classified themselves 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 Facebook.
The survey of 600 Employed Adults was conducted on December 3-4 2013 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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                            December 5, 201319% Say Bad Economy is Making Them Use Credit Cards More
Most Americans think their fellow countrymen use their credit cards too much, but one-in-five say the bad economy makes them do it.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of Adults agree that most Americans need to cut back on credit card use and other borrowing, although that's down 12 points from 87% who felt that way in April 2009. Just seven percent (7%) disagree, while 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. 
This survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 26, 2013 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. 
December 5, 2013Why Republicans Can't Address Rising Inequality By Joe Conason
So far, the Republican response to President Barack Obama's historic address on economic inequality has not veered from the predictable cliches of tea party rhetoric. It was appropriately summarized in a tweet from House Speaker John Boehner, complaining that the Democrat in the White House wants "more government rather than more freedom," ignoring his challenge to Republicans to present solutions of their own.

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                            December 5, 201371% Will Decorate Their Home for the Holidays
More Americans than ever plan to decorate their homes this holiday season, but most haven't finished the job yet.
Seventy-one percent (71%) of American Adults say they will decorate this year, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This finding is a seven-point increase from last year  and the highest number of home decorators in surveys for several years. Twenty-one percent (21%) will not decorate this holiday season. Eight percent (8%) haven't made up their minds yet. (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 December 1-2, 2013 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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                            December 5, 201325% Are Looking for a New Job
Fewer workers than ever are willing to commit to their current job.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 25% of Employed Adults are looking for a job outside of their current company, consistent with surveys for much of this year. A sizable majority (64%) still says it’s not looking for a job elsewhere, but that’s down from 72% in October and the lowest finding in regular surveying since the spring of 2009. Ten percent (10%) are undecided whether to look or not. (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 600 Employed Adults was conducted on December 3-4, 2013 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.
December 5, 2013Real Charity By John Stossel
'Tis the season for giving.   

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                            December 5, 201359% Believe Health Law Problems Unlikely To Be Fixed in Next Year
Despite assurances from the Obama administration over the weekend that the problems with the federal health insurance exchange website have been fixed, voters need more convincing that Obamacare is on the right track.
Only 37% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it’s at least somewhat likely that the current problems with the new national health care law will be fixed within the next year. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% think that's unlikely. This includes 22% who say it's Very Likely those problems will be fixed in the coming year and 35% who say it's Not At All Likely. (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 December 2-3, 2013 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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                            December 4, 201325% Say Country is Heading in the Right Direction
Twenty-five percent (25%) 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 December 1.
That's down one point from 26% the previous week. In early October during the federal government shutdown, confidence in the country’s course fell to 13%, the lowest finding in five years. A year ago, 41% said the country was heading in the right direction.
(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 November 25-26 and December 1, 2013. 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.