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                            February 24, 2014Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 41%, Republicans 37%
Democrats hold a four-point lead over Republicans for the second week in a row on the Generic Congressional Ballot.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending Sunday, February 23, finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today. Thirty-seven percent (37%) would choose the Republican instead. This is unchanged from the previous week  and the third week in a row the Democrats have had the lead.
(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 February 17-23, 2014. 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.
February 24, 2014Voters Want Little U.S. Involvement in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was driven out of office over the weekend following months of violent protests that turned more violent last week. Despite the disturbing news coming out of Kiev, U.S. voters show little enthusiasm about the United States getting involved in the Ukrainian situation and are lukewarm about proposed sanctions on the politically unsettled country.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 17% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should get more directly involved in Ukraine if the political violence continues. Two out of three (66%) want the United States to leave the situation alone, while 18% are undecided. The survey was conducted prior to the president’s departure on Saturday. (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 February 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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                            February 24, 2014West Virginia Senate: Capito (R) 49%, Tennant (D) 35%
Republican Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito posts a 14-point lead over Democrat Natalie Tennant in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the likely 2014 U.S. Senate race in West Virginia.
A new statewide telephone survey finds that Capito earns 49% support from Likely West Virginia Voters to Tennant’s 35%. Four percent (4%) prefer another candidate in the race, and 12% 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 500 Likely Voters in West Virginia was conducted on February 19-20, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
February 24, 2014Minimum Truth: The Hollow Argument Against Higher Wages By Joe Conason
In the midst of a crucial political debate that plainly favored proponents of a higher minimum wage, the Congressional Budget Office dropped a bombshell headline this week. Increasing the minimum to $10.10 an hour -- as demanded by President Barack Obama and Democrats on Capitol Hill -- would "cost 500,000 jobs." At a moment when employment still lags badly, this assertion was potentially devastating.

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                            February 24, 201444% Favor Health Law’s Individual Insurance Mandate
Voters remain almost evenly divided over the new government requirement that every American must have health insurance, while support for a single-payer government-run health care system is at its highest level in over a year.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters think the federal government should require every American to buy or obtain health insurance. Forty-six percent (46%) oppose this so-called individual mandate that is part of the new national health care law. Ten percent (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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 22-23, 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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                            February 23, 201478% Say It’s Harder Now for Teachers to Maintain Discipline
Most Americans still believe that discipline in public schools is too easy these days, but they also think it is harder for today’s teachers to discipline in the classroom compared to previous generations.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% of American Adults believe discipline in public schools is too easy. That’s down slightly from 68% in July 2011. Just five percent (5%) think school discipline is too tough these days, while 19% say it’s about right. Another 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 American Adults was conducted on February 19-20, 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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                            February 22, 2014What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending February 22, 2014
Let’s party – or maybe not. That’s the big decision facing Republicans this election cycle.

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                            February 21, 201468% of Parents With School-Age Kids Think They Should Be Able to Choose School with Spanking
Americans believe overwhelmingly that parents have the right to spank their own children but feel nearly as strongly that teachers don’t. Most parents, however, think they should be able to send their kids to a school that allows disciplinary spanking if they want to.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of American Adults think parents should have a choice between sending their children to a school where disciplinary spanking is allowed and a school where spanking is not allowed. Only 25% disagree, but 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.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 19-20, 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.
February 21, 2014UAW Loss in Chattanooga a Repudiation of 1930s Unionism By Michael Barone
It is 611 miles from the United Auto Workers headquarters in Detroit to Volkswagen's assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. It's a long day's drive, about 10 hours almost entirely on Interstate 75, but it turned out to be too far for the UAW.
Or so one must judge from the results of the unionization election last week in Chattanooga. Volkswagen employees voted 712-626 against certifying the UAW as their bargaining agent.

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                            February 21, 201446% Rate Obama Poorly on Health Care, 41% Positively
Voters' ratings for President Obama's handling of health care issues have rebounded since the disastrous weeks following the rollout of Obamacare on October 1. Voters are now closely divided over the quality of the job he is doing in this area.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters give the president good or excellent marks for his handling of issues related to health care. That's up 11 points from 30% in mid-November, the lowest finding in over a year of regular monthly surveying. Slightly more (46%) still give the president poor marks in this area, but that's down nine points from November's high of 55%. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 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.

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                            February 21, 201435% Blame Global Warming on Long-Term Planetary Trends
Though many voters believe there is significant disagreement in the scientific community, global warming advocates seem to be winning the public relations battle with fewer voters than ever who now think it is due to long-term planetary trends. The number who blame global warming on human activity, however, is unchanged from findings over the past 18 months, and voters still aren't overly enthusiastic about paying more to deal with the climate issue.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Likely U.S. Voters believe global warming is at least a somewhat serious problem, including 30% who say it is Very Serious. Thirty-two percent (32%) don’t consider global warming a serious problem, with 13% who say it’s Not At All Serious. (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 February 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.

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                            February 20, 201450% Don't Trust Fed to Keep Inflation, Interest Rates Down
Confidence in the Federal Reserve’s ability to keep inflation and interest rates down has declined slightly after beginning 2014 at its highest levels in over a year.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident that the Fed can keep inflation and interest rates down, but that includes just 12% who are Very Confident. Fifty percent (50%) lack that confidence, with 17% 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 American Adults was conducted on February 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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                            February 20, 201441% Think 'Stand Your Ground' Laws Improve Public Safety
Florida’s “stand your ground” self-defense law made headlines again this month after a jury there found Michael Dunn not guilty of first-degree murder for shooting a teenager after an argument over loud music. A plurality continues to support "stand your ground" laws, and Americans are now more confident that such a law improves public safety.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of American Adults favor having a “stand your ground” law in their state. That’s unchanged from last July following the verdict in the George Zimmerman case. Thirty-four percent (34%) oppose such a law in their state, while 20% 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 February 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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                            February 20, 201431% Agree Global Warming Is ‘Perhaps Most Fearsome Weapon of Mass Destruction’
Most voters don’t agree with Secretary of State John Kerry’s statement earlier this week that global warming is now "perhaps the world's most fearsome weapon of mass destruction.” Despite Kerry’s dismissal of those who question global warming as belonging to the Flat Earth Society, voters are almost evenly divided when asked if global warming is proven scientific fact.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% of Likely U.S. Voters agree with Kerry’s assessment of global warming. Fifty-four percent (54%) disagree and say global warming is not “perhaps the world’s most fearsome weapon of mass destruction.” Fifteen percent (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 Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 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.
February 20, 2014Hillary Clinton Is Too Old for What? by Froma Harrop
The esteemed political writer Charlie Cook recently produced a column titled "Is Hillary Clinton Too Old to Run?" Despite couching his thoughts with a mention that if Clinton were to run, she would be the same age as Ronald Reagan when he was first elected president, 69, he did venture over the sexism line.
The giveaway came toward the end when Cook noted that Clinton could be challenged for the nomination by Vice President Joe Biden, without noting Biden's age. Biden is almost five years older than she is.
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

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                            February 20, 201431% View Tea Party Movement Favorably
Nearly half of all voters continue to view the Tea Party unfavorably, and the perception is growing that the small government/lower taxes movement is losing steam. But there are also still wide partisan differences of opinion about the Tea Party, while the Political Class remains especially hostile to it.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 31% of Likely U.S. Voters now have a favorable opinion of the Tea Party movement. That’s back to the level seen a year ago and down from a high of 44% in May just after it was disclosed that the Internal Revenue Service was targeting Tea Party and other conservative groups. Forty-seven percent (47%) share an unfavorable view of the Tea Party, but a sizable 22% 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 Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 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.

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                            February 19, 201430% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Thirty percent (30%) 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 February 16.
That's up from 29% the previous two weeks. This finding has seesawed between 29% and 30% every week since mid-December and is consistent with attitudes for much of the Obama presidency. A year ago, 38% 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 February 10-16, 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.
February 19, 2014What America Thinks: More Voters Now Consider Afghanistan Nat'l Security Threat
Despite U.S. protests, Afghan authorities last week released 65 prisoners, some involved in attacks on Americans, so it's not surprising that U.S. voters remain pessimistic about a war now in its thirteenth year.

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                            February 19, 201458% Still Trust A Jury’s Verdict More Than A Judge’s
Juries are in the news again after a Florida man was found not guilty of murder last week for shooting a teenager who refused to turn down his loud rap music. But most Americans still have more faith in juries than in judges, although their views of the overall U.S. justice system have fallen.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of American Adults trust a jury more to determine the guilt or innocence of someone accused of criminal behavior. Just 22% trust a judge more, while nearly as many (20%) 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 American Adults was conducted on February 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.
February 19, 2014Students for Liberty By John Stossel
On Saturday, some 1,500 students from all over the world gathered to discuss freedom at the Students for Liberty Conference in Washington, D.C.