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                            October 2, 2012Obama’s Monthly Approval Rating Is Up A Point in September
When tracking President Obama’s job approval on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture. To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.
For the month of September, the president's Total Job Approval Rating inched up a point to 49% from 48% in August. Since the beginning of 2012, that finding has remained in the narrow range of 47% to 49%.

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                            October 2, 201255% See More Negative Political Ads On TV This Year
Most Americans are paying at least some attention to political advertising on TV this year and think it’s more negative than in previous years. But most also are less likely to vote for a candidate who runs a negative ad. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of American Adults who watch television at least occasionally say they pay attention at least somewhat closely to political advertising. This includes 26% who follow the ads Very Closely. Forty-four percent (44%) aren’t following the televised ads, with 13% who don’t watch them at all. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 26-27, 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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                            October 2, 2012New Mexico: Obama 51%, Romney 40%
President Obama still has a double-digit lead in New Mexico.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely New Mexico Voters finds the president with 51% support to Mitt Romney’s 40%. Six percent (6%) like another candidate, and two percent (2%) remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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This New Mexico survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on September 27, 2012 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. 
October 2, 2012In Politics, Hate Can Backfire By Froma Harrop
Republicans were supposed to have an easy time of it in North Dakota's U.S. Senate race. The multi-term Democrat, Kent Conrad, wasn't running for re-election, and this region is supposed to be Republican in its conservative soul. Thus, according to the script, Republican Rep. Rick Berg should have had this Senate seat in the bag -- as his Democratic foe, Heidi Heitkamp, tried to crawl uphill with a heavy D on her back. Contrary to these expectations, the RealClearPolitics poll average rates this race a "tossup."

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                            October 1, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 45%, Democrats 41%
Republicans now lead Democrats by four points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending September 30, 2012.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 41% would choose the Democrat instead.
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The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from September 24-30, 2012. 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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                            October 1, 201258% Oppose Schools Giving Morning-After Pills to Students
More than 50 New York City public high schools are now giving out morning-after anti-pregnancy pills to students as young as 14, and most Americans disagree with that decision. 
Just 29% of American Adults agree with the public schools' decision to dispense morning-after pills, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-eight percent (58%) disagree, with another 13% who are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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This survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on September 28-29, 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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                            October 1, 2012New Mexico Senate: Heinrich (D) 52%, Wilson (R) 39%
Democratic Congressman Martin Heinrich has extended his lead over former Congresswoman Heather Wilson in New Mexico’s U.S. Senate race. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely New Mexico Voters support Heinrich, while Wilson receives 39% of the vote.  Three percent (3%) prefers some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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This New Mexico survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on September 27, 2012 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. 

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                            October 1, 201249% Think America Weaker Today Than It Was Four Years Ago
Most voters don't rate the United State stronger today than it was four years ago when it comes to race relations, opportunities for women and young people and America’s relationships overseas.
Forty-nine percent (49%) of Likely U.S. Voters, in fact, think America as a nation is weaker now than it was in late 2008. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 29% believe the country is stronger today, while 18% consider it about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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This survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on September 27-28, 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.
October 1, 2012The Particulars of Polls By Michael Barone
As a recovering pollster (I worked for Democratic pollster Peter Hart from 1974 to 1981), let me weigh in on the controversy over whether the polls are accurate. Many conservatives are claiming that multiple polls have overly Democratic samples, and some charge that media pollsters are trying to discourage Republican voters.

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                            October 1, 201252% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law
Voters remain closely divided over whether President Obama’s health care law will be good or bad for the country, but most still hope the law is repealed.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters favor repeal, while 42% are opposed. This includes 43% who Strongly Favor repeal of the measure and 33% who Strongly Oppose it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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Sign up for The Rasmussen Reader, now just $24.95 for a 12-month subscription. Today’s the last day for this discount offer.
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This survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on September 29-30, 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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                            September 30, 201223% Believe Today's Children Will Be Better Off Than Their Parents
The good news is that the number of Americans who believe today’s children will be better off than their parents is at its highest level of 2012. The bad news is that three-out-of-four Americans don't agree or aren't sure.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 23% believe today’s children will be better off than their parents. Fifty-nine percent (59%) disagree, and 18% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)     
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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 22-23, 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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                            September 30, 2012Washington:  Obama 52%, Romney 41%
President Obama holds a double-digit advantage over Mitt Romney in Washington State. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state shows Obama earning 52% of the vote, while Romney picks up 41% support. Three percent (3%) prefers some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Washington is Likely Obama in the Rasmussen Reports Electoral College Scoreboard. Obama carried the state over Republican John McCain by a 58% to 41% margin in 2008.
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This Washington survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on September 26, 2012 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.

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                            September 29, 201280% Still Think Health Care Repeal Likely If Romney Wins
Most voters still think the health care law’s days are numbered if Mitt Romney wins the White House and Republicans gain control of both the House and Senate.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 80% of Likely U.S. Voters believe repeal of the law is likely if Romney is elected and Republicans take control of Congress. Only 12% think repeal is not likely in the event of a GOP victory. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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This survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on September 25-26, 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.
September 29, 2012The Tawdry Tycoon Who Hosted That '47 Percent' Party By Joe Conason
Amid the ongoing uproar over Mitt Romney's snooty remarks at a Florida fundraiser concerning the "47 percent" who pay no federal income taxes, the party's high-rolling host hasn't drawn quite as much attention as he deserves. As the head of private equity firm Sun Capital Partners, Marc Leder is a longtime associate of the Republican nominee -- and a practitioner of the same dubious behavior that has smudged Romney's reputation.     

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                            September 29, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls For The Week Ending September 29, 2012
The presidential race remains competitive even though voters still trust Mitt Romney slightly more than President Obama when it comes to handling economic matters. Will Wednesday night’s first presidential debate make a difference?
With a race this close, possibly but not likely, Scott Rasmussen argues in his latest weekly syndicated column. “Events in the real world matter more than debates,” Scott writes. “Only in the absence of other news could a slight change in the race coming out of the debates be decisive.”
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                            September 28, 201244% Think Fed Chairman Influenced by President
Belief among Americans that the Federal Reserve Board chairman has too much economic clout has softened a bit from previous years, but a plurality continues to feel the chairman of the independent agency is influenced in his decision making by the president.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 41% believe the chairman of the Federal Reserve has too much power over the economy. Six percent (6%) say the chairman does not have enough power, while 38% say the level is about right. Another 15% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The national survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 20-21, 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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                            September 28, 201250% Predict More Than Three Years for Housing Market to Fully Recover
Most Americans still don't see a full recovery of the housing and stock markets in the next three years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of American Adults think it will take more than three years for housing prices to fully recover from the downturn that began in 2008. That's down slightly from 52% in August  and 57% in June, the most negative assessment of the housing market since regular tracking began in January 2009.
Just five percent (5%) think full recovery is likely to occur within the next year. Fifteen percent (15%) say recovery is three years away, while 10% say it's two years away.  Twenty percent (20%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on September 22-23, 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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                            September 28, 2012Washington Governor:  Inslee (D) 46%, McKenna (R) 45%
Rasmussen Reports' first look at the gubernatorial race in Washington shows Republican Rob McKenna and Democrat Jay Inslee running neck-and-neck.
 
The latest telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Evergreen State finds Inslee with 46% support to 45% for McKenna.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, while six percent (6%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
Sign up for The Rasmussen Reader, now just $24.95 for a 12-month subscription. Offer good through October 1, 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.
This Washington survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on September 26, 2012 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.

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                            September 28, 201251% Trust Romney More on Economy, 44% Trust Obama More
Mitt Romney continues to hold a seven-point lead in voter trust over President Obama when it comes to the economy, by far the number one voting issue. The candidates remain more closely divided in several other key issue areas, but voters are shifting toward Romney when it comes to national security.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely U.S. Voters trust Romney more when it comes to handling the economy. Forty-four percent (44%) trust the president more. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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This survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on September 25-26, 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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                            September 28, 2012Maine: Obama 52%, Romney 40%
President Obama posts a 12-point lead over Mitt Romney in Maine.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Maine Voters finds Obama with 52% support to Romney’s 40%. Four percent (4%) favor some other candidate in the race, and another four percent (4%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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Sign up for The Rasmussen Reader, now just $24.95 for a 12-month subscription. Offer good through October 1, 2012. 
This Maine survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on September 25, 2012 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.