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September 9, 2013

49% In Virginia Now Approve of Governor McDonnell’s Job Performance

Republican Governor Bob McDonnell now earns his lowest level of approval yet among Virginia voters. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 49% of Likely Virginia Voters now at least a somewhat approve of the job McDonnell is doing as governor.  That’s down from 59% in early June and 64% in July 2010. Forty-four percent (44%) disapprove, up from 34% in June.  The latest figures include 16% who Strongly Approve of the governor’s job performance and 20% who Strongly Disapprove.

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The survey of 998 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on September 3-4, 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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September 9, 2013

Rasmussen Reports Announces New Vision for “What America Thinks”

Rasmussen Reports today announced that the company’s syndicated television show “What America Thinks with Scott Rasmussen,” which ended its nationwide television station distribution in July 2013, will re-launch later this Fall in online video format, further enriching the digital content available at www.RasmussenReports.com.

The new digital online video program, entitled “What America Thinks,” will offer insights into current events and the public-opinion surveys for which Rasmussen Reports is well known.

September 9, 2013

47% Favor U.S. Military Action Against Syria If Other UN Countries Involved

Despite the strong advocacy of President Obama and other top administration officials, most voters oppose U.S. military action against Syria but are much more supportive if other United Nations member countries are involved. Voters are now more critical of the administration’s handling of Syria.

Just 27% of Likely U.S. Voters favor U.S. military action against Syria in retaliation for that government's use of chemical weapons against its own people. Fifty-nine percent (59%) are opposed to U.S. military action. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 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

September 9, 2013

Most Voters Still Don't Know If Their State Has A Health Care Exchange

Less than one month before government health care exchanges nationwide are scheduled to begin accepting applicants for health insurance, most voters still don't know if their state has created an exchange or not. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% are aware that their state has agreed to set up a health care exchange. Twenty-nine percent (29%) say they don't know if their state has such an exchange, and 26% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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How did you do in this summer’s Rasmussen Challenge?  Check the leaderboard.

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 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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September 9, 2013

John Budek is the Newest Rasmussen Challenge Winner

More than 5,000 people participated in the 2013 summer Rasmussen Challenge,with an average of 2,100 people playing weekly. The winner for this edition of the challenge is John Budek of Long Island City, NY.

September 8, 2013

49ers Once Again Early Super Bowl Favorites In A Crowded Field

For the second year in a row, football fans predict the San Francisco 49ers will win Super Bowl XLVIII. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 25% of Football Fans say the 49ers, last year’s runner-up, will win the Super Bowl.  In a distant second are the Denver Broncos with 14%.  The New England Patriots are seen as this year’s eventual champions by nine percent (9%), while nearly as many (8%) think the Green Bay Packers will win it all.  Seven percent (7%) say the same of the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins.  No other team surveyed reached five percent (5%) support.  (Please click here to find out the rest of the teams surveyed).

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The national survey of 1,000 Football Fans was conducted on September 3-4, 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.

September 7, 2013

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending September 7, 2013

Congress is back in session this coming week with three critical issues demanding its attention – Syria, the October 1 deadline to raise the federal debt ceiling and immigration reform. Voters have pretty strong opinions on all three.

September 6, 2013

48% Say Government Workers Earn More Than Those in Private Sector

Americans continue to believe that government workers have it better than those employed in the private sector, but those sentiments are a bit softer this month.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of American Adults believe the average government worker earns more annually than the average private sector worker, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 25% don’t believe that to be true, while 28% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 1-2, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.

September 6, 2013

70% Say They Are in Good Health

Most Americans believe they are healthy, although just over one-in-three admits to being overweight.

Seventy percent (70%) of American Adults rate their own overall health as good or excellent, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This is generally unchanged from surveys for the past three years. Just seven percent (7%) say they are in poor health. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 30-31, 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.

September 6, 2013

Virginia Governor: McAuliffe (D) 45%, Cuccinelli (R) 38%

Democrat Terry McAuliffe has opened up a seven-point lead over Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli as the Virginia gubernatorial race enters the post-Labor Day stretch.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters finds McAuliffe with 45% support to Cuccinelli’s 38%. Seven percent (7%) prefer some other candidate, while 10% remain unsure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 998 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on September 3-4, 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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September 6, 2013

Obama's 'Red Line' Undermines U.S. Power By Michael Barone

Blunder after blunder. That's been the story of President Barack Obama's policy toward Syria.

In April 2011, Obama said dictator Bashir al-Assad "had to go." But he did little or nothing to speed him on his way.

September 6, 2013

Congress Is Least Favorable Profession

Entrepreneurs and small business owners rate highest in the public's mind, while members of Congress are still at the other end of the scale. 

When Rasmussen Reports asks Americans their opinion of nine major professions, 54% express a Very Favorable opinion of people who start their own businesses, according to a new national telephone survey. Nearly as many (52%) say the same of small business owners. Just two percent (2%) view each of these professions Very Unfavorably. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 3-4, 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.

September 5, 2013

40% Think Government Should Do Nothing for Long-Term Unemployed

More adults than ever think the government should step back from aiding those who can’t find work after an extended period of time. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% of American Adults think the government should help out the long-term unemployed in a big way, with nine percent (9%) who say their unemployment benefits should be extended indefinitely and 10% who say the government should just hire them. Twenty-five percent (25%) prefer the short-term government solution of paying for their retraining, the lowest level of support since October 2011. 

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 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.

September 5, 2013

18% Think Federal Government Should Regulate School Food

With school back in session for most children, first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign is back in the spotlight, but only 18% of Americans think the federal government should have a say in nutritional standards at schools.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Adults believe school nutritional standards should be set locally, with 36% who feel parent-teacher groups should do it and 16% who believe it should be up to local governments. This marks a seven-point shift in favor of local control from 45% in March who favored parent-teacher groups or local governments making the call. Fourteen percent (14%) think state governments should set the standards. Fifteen percent (15%) 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 30-31, 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.

September 5, 2013

7% Think Congress Is Doing A Good or Excellent Job

Congress can’t win: It leaves Washington, DC for its August recess, and its job performance ratings still drop. Most senators and congressmen spent at least some of the recess at home, but voters’ opinions of them remained just as low.

Just seven percent (7%) of Likely U.S. Voters think Congress is doing a good or excellent job. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% rate the legislators’ performance as poor.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 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.

September 5, 2013

76% Think Unvaccinated Children Will Cause Health Problems For Others

As children across the country head back to school, vaccinations are another requirement many parents have to address along with books and supplies. Most parents continue to report their children are up-to-date on their vaccinations, but half of Americans remain concerned about the safety of these preventative measures.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of all American Adults say they are at least somewhat concerned about the safety of vaccinations for children, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That includes 28% who are Very Concerned. Forty-four percent (44%) are not as concerned about childhood vaccines, including 17% who are Not At All Concerned. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 28-29, 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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September 5, 2013

China's Rich, Yearning to Breath Free By Froma Harrop

Thousands of Chinese are fleeing to the United States. We are not talking about impoverished peasants hiding in cargo containers. We're talking about millionaires flying first class and buying condos in the choicest ZIP codes. A big reason for this relocation, real estate agents say, is a desire for America's clean air, as opposed to China's suffocating smog.

September 4, 2013

30% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Thirty percent (30%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey for the week ending September 1.

The latest finding is up one point from the previous week.  Confidence in the country's direction rose steadily last fall, peaking at a high of 43% the week before Election Day. It fell steadily after that to a low for the year to date of 26% in mid- to late July.

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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on August 26-September 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.

September 4, 2013

23% Now Use Online Movie Streaming Services

Despite the growing popularity of online movie streaming services such as Netflix, most Americans are still more likely to watch a film on network or cable TV. 

Just 14% of American Adults rarely or never watch movies at home, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-three percent (23%) watch a film at home at least once a week, while another 30% do so at least once a month. Thirty-one percent (31%) say they only occasionally watch movies at home.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on August 22-23, 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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September 4, 2013

Milk of Human Blindness By John Stossel

The Denver Post warns, "Milk, food prices could rise if Congress fails to act."

Congress is working on a farm bill, which, among other things, will set limits on how high or low milk prices can be in different regions of the country.