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August 23, 2013

Voters Favor Choices for Prayer, Uniforms, Calendar in Schools

Most voters continue to think parents should be able to choose between schools based on such things as uniforms, prayer and how long the school year lasts.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of Likely Voters now believe a parent should have a choice between sending their children to a school that allows prayer and a school that does not, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.  Sixteen percent (16%) disagree.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on August 21-22, 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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August 23, 2013

Stop and Frisk Doesn't Target Minorities, It Protects Them By Michael Barone

New York City seems on the verge of making the same mistake that Detroit made 40 years ago. The mistake is to abolish the NYPD practice referred to as stop and frisk.    

August 23, 2013

51% Believe Manning Should Have to Serve Entire Sentence

Chelsea Manning, formerly known as Bradley, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for releasing classified government documents to the website WikiLeaks. A plurality of voters says that punishment is about right and half believe there shouldn’t be a possibility of parole.

Forty-two percent (42%) of Likely Voters believe the 35-year sentence handed down to Manning is about right, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But one in three voters (32%) says the sentence is not severe enough. Nineteen percent (19%) consider the punishment too severe. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

It should be noted that Rasmussen Reports conducted the poll prior to Manning announcing she identifies as a female and used her original name in the question wording.

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 21-22, 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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August 23, 2013

An NSA Drama Goes Crackpot By Froma Harrop

Journalist Glenn Greenwald's partner was detained at London's Heathrow Airport for nine hours -- no waterboarding or electric shocks, just pointed questions and confiscation of David Michael Miranda's computer gear. That prompted Greenwald to threaten Britain with more of his writings.

August 23, 2013

80% Are Paying More For Groceries Than a Year Ago

Most Americans are still paying more for groceries than they were last year and remain concerned about inflation.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 80% of American Adults now say they are paying more for groceries today than they were a year ago. Only 12% say they are paying less. These findings have changed little in recent years, though the number reporting higher grocery bills is at its lowest since July 2010. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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(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 18-19, 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.

August 22, 2013

Most Adults Tend to Cook, Eat Dinner At Home

On a typical day, most Americans eat dinner at home rather than go out to eat. They also most often cook that dinner instead of grabbing a ready-made meal.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 89% of American Adults are more likely to eat dinner at home on a typical day, while just 10% are more likely to eat dinner out somewhere. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 16-17, 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.

August 22, 2013

51% Say Value Of Their Home Worth More Than They Still Owe

Just half of homeowners believe their home is worth more than what they still owe on it, but confidence in the short-term housing market remains higher than it has been in several years.

Fifty-one percent (51%) of U.S. homeowners say the value of their house is worth more than the amount they still owe on their mortgage, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  That finding is down from 55% a month ago. Thirty-six percent (36%) say they owe more than what their home is worth, while 13% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 719 U.S. Homeowners nationwide was conducted on August 20-21, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports.  The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

August 22, 2013

Many Voters Still Doubt Legitimacy of Town Hall Protests

When members of Congress head home for August recess, most voters think they should use town hall meetings in their districts as a way to hear the views of their constituents.  But voters have mixed feelings about the motives behind those who speak out at these meetings.

Eighteen percent (18%) of Likely Voters have already attended or are likely to attend a town hall meeting with a congressman during this month’s recess, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-six percent (76%) haven’t or don’t plan on doing so. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 17-18, 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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August 22, 2013

Rasmussen Reports Announces a Change in Management

The Rasmussen Reports, LLC Board of Directors today confirmed that founder Scott Rasmussen left the company last month.  In part, the move reflects disagreements over company business strategies.

Mike Boniello, the company's chief operating officer, will assume a broader leadership role until a replacement for Mr. Rasmussen is named.

The Company emphasized that Mr. Rasmussen's legacy remains intact.  His polling methodologies and protocols, widely acknowledged as among the most accurate and reliable in the industry, continue to guide and inform the company’s public opinion survey techniques.  In addition, the editorial culture of excellence that he built is still very much in place.

August 22, 2013

Fewer Voters Than Ever Now Consider Auto Bailouts a Success

The number of voters who consider the bailouts of the auto industry a success is at an all-time low, while the fewest in a year think the bailouts were good for the country.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 40% of Likely U.S. Voters think the bailouts of the auto industry were good for the United States, the lowest level in a year. Slightly more (45%) think they were bad for the country, up three from March and the highest since last August. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 15-16, 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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August 22, 2013

Conflicts? Deficits? Why Reporters Ignore the Real Story of the Clinton Foundation By Joe Conason

The mere prospect of Hillary Rodham Clinton running for president again is evidently provoking outrage among old adversaries -- from Rush Limbaugh and Fox News to Maureen Dowd -- whose appetite for bogus "Clinton scandals" will never be sated. With the fizzling of Benghazi after an official State Department probe found no wrongdoing by the former Secretary of State, her critics have moved on, casting a gimlet eye on the charitable foundation built by her husband, the former president, over the past decade. Although Hillary has mostly been very busy elsewhere, the foundation provides an ample target for speculation and spite -- so long as critics ignore what it actually does for people around the world.

August 21, 2013

29% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction for the second straight week, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey, this time for the week ending August 18. Confidence in the country's direction rose steadily last fall, peaking at a high of 43% the week just before Election Day. It's been gradually decreasing ever since.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on August 12-18, 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.

August 21, 2013

44% Confident In Stability of U.S. Banking System

Fewer Americans are confident in the banking industry this month, and more are worried about losing their money due to bank failure.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, including just eight percent (8%) who are Very Confident. Fifty-one percent (51%) are not confident in the stability of the industry, including 13% who are Not At All Confident. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 18-19, 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.

August 21, 2013

52% Support Required Uniform Cameras For Police Officers

A federal judge last week ruled that New York City Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy violates the rights of minorities and suggested a trial program that would require on-duty police officers to wear uniform cameras, a practice already utilized in some areas of the country. Just over half of voters nationwide like the idea of police officers wearing cameras but a plurality thinks it wouldn’t have much impact on crime.  Voters are also more likely to view racial profiling as a civil rights violation.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of Likely Voters believe police officers should be required to wear uniform cameras while on duty, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-eight percent (28%) oppose this requirement, while another 20% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 19-20, 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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August 21, 2013

Beware Warrior Cops By John Stossel

We need police to catch murderers, thieves and con men, and so we give them special power -- the power to use force on others.  Sadly, today's police use that power to invade people's homes over accusations of trivial, nonviolent offenses -- and often do it with tanks, battering rams and armor you'd expect on battlefields.

In his book "Rise of the Warrior Cop," Radley Balko recounts the rise of police SWAT teams (SWAT stands for Special Weapons And Tactics) armed with heavy military equipment.  SWAT raids began as rarely used methods of dealing with violent situations, like hostage-takings.

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August 21, 2013

46% Have A Favorable View of Vice President Biden

Voters remain evenly divided on their views of Vice President Joe Biden, but most Democrats continue to see him in a favorable light.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely Voters have at least a somewhat favorable impression of Biden, while 47% view him unfavorably.  But only 19% have a Very Favorable opinion of the Democrat from Delaware, compared to 30% with a Very Unfavorable one.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 15-16, 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.

August 20, 2013

79% Say Americans Watch Too Much TV

Most adults continue to believe their fellow Americans watch too much TV, but fewer than ever admit they watch the tube daily. 

Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Adults believe most Americans watch too much television, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  Only seven percent (7%) disagree, while 14% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 14-15, 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.

August 20, 2013

Most Adults Say It’s Important To Them To Buy Organic, Locally-Grown Food

Most Americans choose a major chain supermarket when they go food shopping, but they still consider it at least somewhat important to find food that is locally grown and organic. They overwhelmingly agree, though, that organic food is more expensive.

The majority of American adults (55%) go food shopping once a week, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-seven percent (27%) go two or three times a week, and seven percent (7%) go every day or nearly every day. Ten percent (10%) shop for food once a month or less. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 16-17, 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.

August 20, 2013

53% View Boehner Unfavorably

Ohio Republican John Boehner draws his worst ratings since becoming speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in early 2011. His fellow party leaders in Congress don’t fare much better.

Just 30% of Likely Voters have a favorable impression of Republican House Speaker John Boehner, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-three percent (53%) now view the Ohio congressman unfavorably, his highest negative 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 Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 15-16, 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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August 20, 2013

Use Private Capital for Roads and Bridges, Not Taxpayer Money By Michael Barone

This Congress has been criticized for not passing many laws -- and praised for that in some quarters. And it's true that in quantitative terms its productivity has been low.