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                            February 12, 2013Voters Think Obama Should Emphasize Economy in State of the Union Speech
Most voters plan to follow news about President Obama’s State of the Union speech even though they don’t expect it to lead to much. Voters hope the president in his speech emphasizes the economy, job creation and government spending over other issues.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 74% of Likely U.S. Voters say they are at least somewhat likely to watch or follow news reports about the president’s State of the Union address. This includes 46% who are Very Likely to do so. Just 24% say they are not very or Not At All Likely to watch or follow news reports about the speech. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 10-11, 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.
February 12, 2013On Valentine's Day -- Women Try; Men Don't By Froma Harrop
The following is a crashing generalization, but here goes: When it comes to how we dress, there are serious gender inequities -- in standards of comfort and in body exposure. Valentine's Day underscores a third that rankles just as much: inequality of effort. 

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                            February 12, 201360% Believe Letting Entrepreneurs Get Rich is Good for Economy
Americans overwhelmingly believe that it’s not only fair for entrepreneurs to get rich, it’s good for the economy.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 86% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is fair for those who build very successful companies to get very rich. Only 10% see it as unfair. Those figures include 56% who see such rewards as Very Fair and two percent (2%) who say they’re Not at All Fair. (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 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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                            February 11, 2013Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 42%, Republicans 39%
Democrats now hold a three-point lead over Republicans on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending February 10, 2013.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Republican 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 February 4-10, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage point 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 11, 201346% Say Deficit Should Be Reduced By Spending Cuts Alone
A plurality (46%) of Likely U.S. Voters thinks the long-term plan for reducing the federal deficit should be based on spending cuts only, but nearly as many (41%) would rather see a combination of spending cuts and tax hikes.
Just eight percent (8%) believe the long-term budget deficit should be reduced by simply raising taxes, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 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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                            February 11, 201359% Still Think Tougher Gun Control Laws Likely
Most Americans continue to believe that Congress and the president are likely to pass tougher gun control laws, and nearly half think the Obama administration has done a good job responding to the December elementary school shooting in Connecticut.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of Americans still feel the United States needs stricter gun control laws. Forty-five percent (45%) disagree. (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 February 7-8, 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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                            February 11, 201321% Think President Should Have Sole Authority To Order Drone Killings
The Obama administration recently acknowledged its policy of using drones to kill U.S. citizens abroad who have terrorist ties, prompting outrage across the political spectrum.  Most voters don’t like the idea and some lawmakers have now proposed creation of a special court to review planned drone strikes by the president.
Just 36% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the American government’s use of unmanned drones to kill U.S. citizens in other countries who pose a terrorist threat.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% oppose government use of drones for this purpose. Twenty-three percent (23%) are not sure. (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 Likely Voters was conducted on February 8-9, 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.
February 11, 2013Congressional Hearings Show Obama Treading Dangerous Global Path By Michael Barone
There were two extraordinary disclosures in Thursday's testimony of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
One is that there was no communication between them and Barack Obama or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the seven hours of Sept. 11, 2012, when Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were attacked and murdered in Benghazi.

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                            February 11, 2013Voters Strongly Favor Individual Choice When It Comes to Health Insurance
Voters remain closely divided over President Obama’s national health care law but also still believe overwhelmingly in individual choice when it comes to health insurance. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of the health care law, while slightly more (49%) view it unfavorably. This includes 21% with a Very Favorable opinion and 35% with 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 February 8-9, 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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                            February 10, 201344% Rate Obama’s Deficit Reduction Efforts As Poor
Voters give President Obama better marks for pursuing economic fairness than in dealing with the nation’s  federal budget deficits.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters give the president good or excellent marks when it comes to handling issues related to economic fairness. Nearly as many (39%) view his performance in this area 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 Twitter or Facebook.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 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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                            February 10, 2013Most Want Dinner With Someone Special For Valentine’s Day
Forget flowers and chocolate. It turns out what most Americans want is dinner with someone special on Valentine’s Day.
Sixty-two percent (62%) of American Adults want dinner with a special someone on February 14, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Eleven percent (11%) would like chocolate most for Valentine’s Day, while seven percent (7%) want flowers. One-in-five (20%), though, are not sure what they’d like most. (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 5-6, 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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                            February 9, 2013What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending February 9, 2013
What voters want isn’t often what they get.
Case in point: President Obama has indicated that gun control and immigration reform are his top priorities for the year and will be central to his State of the Union address this coming Tuesday night. But voters rate government spending and job creation as far more important issues than either gun control or immigration.
The issues the president cares about are important to Democrats, and that may be the key, Scott Rasmussen explains in his latest weekly newspaper column. “By focusing on the ability of Congress to block progress on these initiatives,” he writes, ”the president may give his base strong motivation to show up for the midterm elections.”

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                            February 9, 201359% Have Favorable Opinion of Social Security
Most voters still have a favorable opinion of Social Security but lack confidence that the government program will pay them their full benefits.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely Voters have at least a somewhat favorable impression of Social Security.  Thirty-four percent (34%) have an unfavorable opinion of the government retirement program.  These figures include 26% with a Very Favorable view and 11% with 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 January 31-February 1, 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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                            February 8, 201367% Say Private Sector Employees Work Harder Than Government Workers
Americans continue to believe those in the private sector work harder for less money and have less job security than government workers.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults finds that 67% say employees in the private sector work harder than government workers do.  Only seven percent (7%) think the opposite is true, 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 Adults was conducted on February 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.

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                            February 8, 201349% Consider U.S. Economy Unfair
Voters are almost evenly divided when it comes to the fairness of the U.S. economy.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the U.S. economy today is at least somewhat fair, while 49% consider it unfair. This includes only six percent (6%) who feel it is Very Fair and 15% who say it is Not At All Fair. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in the new Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard to find out.  
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 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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                            February 8, 2013Only 36% Think President, Congress Should Stop March 1 Spending Cuts
President Obama and many members of Congress expected strong voter opposition to automatic and across-the-board government spending cuts scheduled for March, but it hasn’t materialized. Partly that’s because most voters recognize that they’re not really spending cuts anyway.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 36% of Likely U.S. Voters now think the president and Congress should stop the automatic spending cuts from going into effect next month. Thirty percent (30%) disagree and say Congress and the president should not stop the automatic spending cuts.  Just as many (34%) 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 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.
February 8, 2013After 20 Years, Success of Family and Medical Leave Act Should Humble the Far Right By Joe Conason
When Bill Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act on Feb. 5, 1993 almost exactly 20 years ago as the first legislative act of his presidency, its establishment as law marked a progressive victory after nearly a decade of ferocious opposition by corporate lobbyists, Republican legislators, conservative media and right-wing pundits.
Leading the opposition was the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, whose spokeswoman Virginia Lamp denounced the act as "a dangerous precedent." (She would eventually marry Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and move on to employment with the Koch brothers.) With the honorable exception of the Catholic Church and a number of moderate Republicans in Congress, the self-proclaimed "pro-family" forces in American political life eagerly aided and abetted the Chamber's attempt to kill the act. Mandating a federal right to unpaid leave, even if restricted to certain workers in larger businesses, would place the nation on a slippery path toward European socialism, or worse, according to the Chamber and its Republican allies and impose untold damage on business.

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                            February 8, 2013For Obama, It's Chiefly About Firing up His Base By Scott Rasmussen
As President Obama prepares for his State of the Union address, he has indicated that gun control and immigration will be two of his top priorities. His administration's actions also indicate an ongoing commitment to place a high priority on environmental concerns. These items, though, tend to rank fairly low on voter lists of priorities.

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                            February 7, 201330% Think More Government Hiring Good for the Economy
Americans continue to favor limited government involvement in the job market, with just 30% who now think it would be good for the economy if the government hires more people. That's down three points from December and the lowest finding in nearly two years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a plurality (45%) continues to believe it would be bad for the economy if the government does more hiring. Ten percent (10%) think it would have no economic impact, while 15% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in the new Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard to find out. 
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 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.

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                            February 7, 2013Voters Have Long Been Okay with Five-Day-A-Week Mail Service
The U.S. Postal Service announced this week that it is ending Saturday delivery come August, but as far as most Americans are concerned, it’s a move that’s long overdue.
Four years ago, in January 2009, 69% of Americans told Rasmussen Reports that they preferred five-day-a-week delivery to raising the price of stamps.
In July 2011, 63% were all for the Postal Service’s plan to cut mail delivery to five days a week to reduce its budget losses.
By April of last year, 75% thought it was a better idea to reduce mail delivery to five days a week than to have the federal government provide additional financial support to the Postal Service.
(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.