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                            November 19, 201242% Willing To Pay More in Taxes to Balance Budget If Real Spending Cuts Are Made
If real spending cuts aren’t enough, voters are evenly divided over whether they’d be willing to pay more in taxes to balance the budget. They’re similarly divided when it comes to cutting income tax deductions for higher-income Americans, but most like the idea of making all income up to $20,000 tax-free.
If the president and Congress agreed to a long-term plan to significantly reduce federal spending and the deficit, 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would be personally willing to pay “a bit more” in taxes to balance the budget if the spending cuts were not enough. But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that another 42% are not willing to pay more even if they were assured that the spending cuts were real. Sixteen percent (16%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Given the holiday week, there will be no Rasmussen Challenge this week.  The contest will resume on Tuesday, November 27, 2012.
(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 November 15, 2012 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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                            November 18, 201232% Favor Raising Taxes to Shore Up Medicare
Nearly one-out-of-three Likely U.S. Voters (32%) now think raising taxes is the best way to make sure Medicare has enough money to cover all promised benefits. That's the highest finding to date.
Slightly more (34%) believe the best option is raising the eligibility age for future generations, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Ten percent (10%) support cutting the promised level of benefits, and 25% are not sure which is the best option. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 14, 2012 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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                            November 17, 2012Americans Feel A Bit More Generous This Holiday Season
Americans plan to be a little less tight with their money this gift-giving season.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults say they will spend less on gifts than they did last year.  But that's down from 62% this time last year, 58% in 2010 and 71% in 2009.
Still, only 13% of Americans plan to spend more on gifts, up just slightly from last year. Thirty-one percent (31%) will spend about the same amount, but that's up eight points from 23% a year ago.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
(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 nationwide was conducted on November 13-14, 2012 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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                            November 17, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- For The Week Ending November 17, 2012
You can bet President Obama and Congress don’t want to leave Americans huge tax hikes and deep across-the-board spending cuts as a late holiday present, so official Washington is scrambling to avoid the end-of-the-year “fiscal cliff.” Voters think that’s a good idea.

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                            November 16, 201259% Favor A Welcoming Immigration Policy
Most voters continue to welcome newcomers to this country as long as they pose no threat to public safety.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the goal of immigration policy should be to keep out only criminals, national security threats and those who come here to life off the welfare system. Just 25% disagree with an immigration policy like this, while 16% more are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
(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 November 15, 2012 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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                            November 16, 201257% Favor Tax Hike On Those Who Make Over $250,000
Most voters favor raising taxes on those who earn more than $250,000 a year but recognize that that won’t be enough to balance the federal budget.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of Likely U.S. Voters favor raising taxes on people who earn more than $250,000 a year. Thirty-five percent (35%) are opposed. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 15, 2012 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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                            November 16, 20127% Have Already Finished Their Holiday Shopping
There is still a week to go before the Black Friday shopping rush, but for seven percent (7%) of Americans, their holiday shopping’s already all done.
Nearly one-third of American Adults (32%) have started their holiday shopping, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. But 65% have not yet begun to shop. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
(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 nationwide was conducted on November 13-14, 2012 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.
November 16, 2012Mitt Romney's Sneering Farewell to the '47 Percent' By Joe Conason
Trying to explain away his decisive, sweeping and very expensive rout to his disappointed supporters -- those one-percent Republicans -- Mitt Romney offered a new version of the discredited "47 percent" argument that was so ruinous in its original form. In a Wednesday afternoon conference call, the defeated Republican nominee told donors and fundraisers that President Obama had won by lavishing generous "gifts" upon certain groups, including young voters, African-Americans and Latinos.

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                            November 16, 2012Americans Favor a New Approach to War on Drugs By Scott Rasmussen
More than 40 years ago, the federal government launched a war on drugs. Over the past decade, the nation has spent hundreds of billions of dollars fighting that war, a figure that does not even include the high costs of prosecuting and jailing drug law offenders. It's hard to put a price on that aspect of the drug war since half of all inmates in federal prison today were busted for drugs. 
November 15, 2012To Win, Obama Sacrifices House, State Legislatures By Michael Barone
Barack Obama attended more than 200 fundraisers for his presidential campaign, but he refrained from raising money for congressional Democrats.
November 15, 2012They Led Us to the Cliff but Can't Make Us Jump By Froma Harrop
The tea party now has its own news site. Based at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, the Tea Party News Network describes itself as "the only trusted news source." It focuses on such right-wing heroes as Michele Bachmann and Allen West, who just lost an election for a House seat in South Florida -- though perhaps not on TPNN.

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                            November 15, 201256% Have Favorable Opinion of Hillary Clinton
Two of the most influential members of President Obama's Cabinet, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, will reportedly be leaving their posts soon. Clinton continues to be the most popular Cabinet member, while Geithner remains one of the least-liked.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that Clinton is viewed favorably by 56% of Likely U.S. Voters and unfavorably by 40%. This includes 33% with a Very Favorable opinion of her and 22% with a Very Unfavorable one. Only four percent (4%) have no opinion of the former first lady and U.S. senator from New York. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
(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 November 14, 2012 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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                            November 15, 201252% View Petraeus Resignation As Appropriate
Most voters agree CIA Director David Petraeus should have resigned after it was discovered he was having an extramarital affair, but they also feel there’s little likelihood the affair exposed any of the nation’s top secrets.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is appropriate for Petraeus, to have resigned. Just 29% disagree, while another 19% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
(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 November 14, 2012 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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                            November 15, 201242% See Need for Big Cuts in Defense, Entitlements to Reduce Deficit, 31% Don’t
Voters still tend to think defense spending and entitlement programs need to go on the chopping block to reduce the record federal deficit, but they’re not overly confident that President Obama and Congress will reach a long-term agreement to make those cuts.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is necessary to significantly reduce the cost of entitlement programs and military spending to reduce the long-term federal deficit. But 31% disagree and don’t see a need for major cuts in these areas. Nearly as many (27%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
(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 November 12-13, 2012 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.
November 15, 2012Important Note Regarding Stories on 11/15/12
Rasmussen Reports is experiencing some technical difficulties today. We are currently trying to resolve the issues and will post stories and data as we can throughout the day. We apologize for the inconvenience.
November 15, 201246% Say Drunk Driving Laws Not Tough Enough
A sizable number of Americans still don't believe drunk driving laws are tough enough, but adults in this country are narrowly divided over how sentences for those crimes should be determined.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 46% of Americans believe current drunk driving laws are not tough enough, but 39% think they are about right. Only nine percent (9%) feel those laws are too tough. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week's Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
The survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted on November 9-10, 2012 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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                            November 14, 201242% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction
Forty-two percent (42%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, November 11.
That’s down a point from the previous week which marked the highest level of optimism during the Obama presidency. Still, the latest finding is up 18 points from the beginning of the year and up 24 points from a year ago.
Take the Rasmussen Challenge! Answers must be submitted by 11:59pm ET tonight. 
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen November 5-11, 2012. 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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                            November 14, 201230% Say Supreme Court Doing Good or Excellent Job
Views of the U.S. Supreme Court's performance are little changed, but fewer voters now believe justices nominated by President Obama are too liberal. 
Thirty percent (30%) of Likely Voters rate the job the Supreme Court is doing as good or excellent, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  Twenty-four percent (24%) consider the high court’s performance 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 12-13, 2012 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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                            November 14, 201251% Think Deal To Avoid ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Likely by January 1
President Obama will hold a press conference today to push his deficit-cutting plan as lawmakers in Washington battle over ways to prevent the massive tax hikes and spending cuts scheduled for January 1.  Given the partisan bickering, a bare majority of voters thinks a deal to avoid going over the so-called “fiscal cliff” is likely to emerge before then.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters now believe it is likely that Congress and the president will agree on a plan to stop the tax increases and spending cuts before the first of the year. Forty-two percent (42%) think a deal is unlikely to emerge. These findings include only 15% who feel a deal is Very Likely and just as many (14%) who say it’s Not At All Likely. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an IPad: Take the Rasmussen Challenge. 
(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 November 12-13, 2012 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.
November 14, 2012Did Freedom Win? By John Stossel
Democrats won big last week. So government will continue to grow. Individual freedom will yield.
At least some people with records of supporting liberty were elected: Sen. Jeff Flake in Arizona and U.S. Reps. Justin Amash and Kerry Bentivolio in Michigan and Thomas Massie in Kentucky.
Also, Washington and Colorado voted to allow any adult to use marijuana. (But users beware. Your newfound freedom may be short-lived thanks to that extraordinary human being in the White House -- you know, the one who smoked pot when he was in school. Despite promising that he wouldn't, he has cracked down on pot dispensaries far more often than President Bush did.)