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                            February 13, 201338% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction
Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, February 10.
The latest finding is down a point from the previous week, is up five points from a month ago but is still down from 42% three months ago – just below the highest level measured in over five years of weekly tracking. This time last year, 34% were confident in the nation’s current course.
(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 February 4-10, 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.

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                            February 13, 201348% Are Confident In U.S. Banking System, 45% Are Not
Though their confidence in the banking system remains mixed, fewer adults are now concerned about losing their money due to a banking failure.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the banking system, while nearly as many (45%) lack that confidence. This includes 11% who are Very Confident in the banking system and 12% 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 Adults was conducted on February 9-10, 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 13, 201363% of U.S. Catholics View Pope Benedict XVI Favorably
Most American Catholics have a favorable opinion of Pope Benedict XVI, and less than half think he shares the views and values of the majority of Catholics in this country.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of U.S. Catholics share at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the pope who announced Monday that he is stepping down as the leader of the Catholic Church worldwide. Only 21% of Catholics in this country view him unfavorably. This includes 33% with a Very Favorable opinion and four percent (4%) with a Very Unfavorable one. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure what they think of the man who has led their church since 2005. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on February 11-12, 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 13, 201351% Fear Government Won’t Help Economy; 64% Want Spending Cuts
More voters than ever are worried the government is not doing enough to help the struggling economy, but they continue to believe spending cuts are the best course of action. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters say what worries them more is that the federal government will not do enough in reacting to the nation’s current economic problems. Thirty-seven percent (37%) take the opposite view and are more worried the government will do too much in response to the bad economy. Twelve percent (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 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 13, 2013A Real State of the Union By John Stossel
We've heard another State of the Union speech, and my president said grand things like:
"Think about ... a future where we're in control of our own energy ... I will not cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China ... I will not back down from protecting our kids from mercury poisoning ..."
Actually, he said that in 2012. I write before this year's speech, but he says basically the same thing every year: With more spending, government can fix everything.

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                            February 12, 201322% See More Gun Control As Best Curb to Mass Murders
Support for banning semi-automatic and assault-type weapons has changed little, but Americans feel more strongly than ever that treating mental illness will do more than stricter gun control laws to help prevent incidents like the Connecticut school shooting. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults finds that 55% think there should be a ban on the purchase of semi-automatic and assault-type weapons, showing no change from late December. Thirty-eight percent (38%) 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 national 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 12, 201340% Think Major Energy Legislation Likely to Reduce Global Warming
Voters think it’s important for Congress to pass legislation to deal with global warming this year even though they think it's unlikely to significantly reduce the problem. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 61% of Likely Voters believe it’s at least somewhat important for Congress to pass major energy legislation aimed at reducing global warming this year, including 38% who say it’s Very Important. Thirty-seven percent (37%) don’t see such legislation as important, with 22% who say it’s Not At All Important. (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 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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                            February 12, 2013Where The President Stands with Voters – Issue by Issue
President Obama’s latest State of the Union speech is expected to be a laundry list of issues he considers important as he sets the nation’s course for the next four years.
Obama continues to enjoy some of the highest job approval ratings of his presidency in the daily Presidential Tracking Poll, even though just 39% of Likely U.S. Voters think the nation is heading in the right direction. Still, that’s a big improvement from a year ago at this time when only 29% felt that way.
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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.”