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November 12, 201245% Think Marijuana Should be Legalized, 45% Disagree
Colorado and Washington state legalized recreational marijuana use last Tuesday, and several other states have legalized medical marijuana use. But, nationwide, Americans are still divided on whether or not to legalize it. 
Forty-five percent (45%) of American adults say marijuana should be legalized, but just as many (45%) say no, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Ten percent (10%) are not sure whether it should be legal. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
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 12, 2012As Fiscal Cliff Looms, Voters Want to Extend Tax Cuts Past 2012
There’s been a lot of talk around the so-called “fiscal cliff”, the result of a potential combination of tax increases and automatic cuts in government spending scheduled to begin on January 1. Most voters believe Congress and the president should work to extend the tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year, but don’t think they should allow the automatic spending cuts to take effect at that time.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 60% of Likely Voters believe the government should extend the variety of tax cuts, including those implemented during the George W. Bush administration, past the end of the year. Just 28% believe Congress and the president should let those tax cuts expire. Another 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 November 8-9, 2012 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.
November 12, 2012Obama Wins by Going Negative and Turning Out Base By Michael Barone
Lukewarm. That's the feeling I get from the election numbers.
Turnout was apparently down, at least as a percentage of eligible voters. The president was re-elected by a reduced margin. The challenger didn't inspire the turnout surge he needed.

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                            November 12, 201251% Think Auto Bailouts Were Good for the United States
Most voters view the auto industry bailouts positively until they learn that the federal government will lose money because of them.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Likely Voters say, looking back, the bailouts of the auto industry were good for the United States.  Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree and feel they were bad for the country, while 12% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Win an iPad: The Rasmussen Challenge! This week's entries will be accepted until 11:59pm ET on Wednesday, October 14.
(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 8-9, 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 11, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 45%, Republicans 42%
Democrats now lead Republicans by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending November 11, 2012.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while another 42% 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 November 5-11, 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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                            November 11, 201245% Say America’s Best Days Are in the Past, 43% Say They Still Lie Ahead
As Barack Obama prepares to serve a second term as President, American voters are closely divided as to whether the nation’s best days are behind us or still to come. Forty-five percent (45%) of Likely U.S. Voters feel that America’s best days are in the past, but nearly as many (43%) think they are in the future, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twelve percent (12%) 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 7, 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 11, 20129% of Working Americans Consider Themselves Poor
The number of working Americans who classify themselves as poor has fallen to its lowest level in more than three years.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Employed Americans shows that a majority (65%) believe they are in the middle class, while another 21% classify themselves as upper middle class. Nine percent (9%) say they are poor, while just five percent (5%) consider themselves wealthy. (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 625 Employed Adults was conducted on November 5-6, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 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 10, 201245% Confident In Stability of U.S. Banking Industry
Confidence in the stability of the U.S. banking system has fallen back below 50%, but most Americans are still not afraid of losing the money they have in the bank due to a failure. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, but only eight percent (8%) are Very Confident.  Fifty percent (50%) lack confidence, with 14% who are Not At All Confident.  (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 was conducted on November 7-8, 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 10, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- For The Week Ending November 11, 2012
“One of the strangest aspects of Election 2012 is that voters are demanding change but didn't change politicians. They left Republicans in charge of the House, elected an even more Democratic Senate and re-elected President Obama. They're unhappy with the status quo in the country but left the political status quo in place.” That’s how Scott Rasmussen described the results in his weekly newspaper column. He added that “voters basically threw the same kids back in the room and told them to clean up the mess they've created.”
Now that the election is over, most voters (55%) want the Republicans in Congress to work with the president. However, eight-out-of-ten Republicans disagree and want their representatives to stand for what they believe in rather than compromise. The president is not the only one likely to have trouble with GOP voters. Most Republicans think their representatives in Washington are out of touch with the party’s base.

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                            November 9, 2012Voters More Conservative on Fiscal Issues Than Social Issues
As voters headed to the polls this week, they remained a bit more conservative on fiscal matters than social issues. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of Likely Voters are ideologically conservative on fiscal issues such as taxes and government spending. Thirty-six percent (36%) see themselves as moderate on those issues, while 17% say they are have liberal views on those topics. (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 2,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 6, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2 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 9, 201248% Consider Obama a Good or Excellent Leader
Just days after his reelection, nearly half of American voters see President Obama as a good leader.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters rate Obama as a good or excellent leader. Thirty-eight percent (38%) think he is a poor leader. (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 7, 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 9, 2012New High:  68% See Global Warming As Serious Problem
While there was little talk of climate change during the presidential campaign, the number of U.S. voters who see global warming as a serious problem is at an all-time high.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of Likely U.S. Voters now say global warming is at least a somewhat serious problem, including 38% who think it’s Very Serious.  Thirty percent (30%) don’t see global warming as a serious problem, with 12% who think it’s Not At All Serious.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 5, 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 9, 2012Parenting Politicians Is Hard Work By Scott Rasmussen
One of the strangest aspects of Election 2012 is that voters are demanding change but didn't change politicians. They left Republicans in charge of the House, elected an even more Democratic Senate and re-elected President Obama. They're unhappy with the status quo in the country but left the political status quo in place. 
November 8, 2012Republicans Need to Take Their Party Back By Froma Harrop
Americans wanted to keep the country they know, and said so Tuesday. Now it's time for responsible Republicans to take their party back from the fringe that loses them elections.

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                            November 8, 201216% View Online Dating Sites Favorably
Few Americans have a favorable opinion of online dating services like eHarmony or match.com.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just nine percent (9%) say they’ve used an online dating service. (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 American Adults nationwide was conducted on October 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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                            November 8, 201251% Say Staying With Current Company Best Opportunity for Career Advancement
More working Americans believe the best opportunity for career advancement is to stay put, and fewer than ever are currently out on the job hunt.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% of Employed Adults say staying with their current company provides the best opportunity for career advancement.  Thirty-two percent (32%) believe going to work for someone else is a better way to get ahead, while another 18% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
How did you do in this week’s Rasmussen Challenge? Check the leaderboard.
The survey of 625 Employed Adults was conducted on November 5-6, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 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 8, 2012Most Want GOP to Work With Obama, GOP Voters Disagree
Most voters feel it’s more important for Republicans to work with President Obama than stand up for what their party believes in. GOP voters overwhelmingly disagree, even as their party’s congressional leaders reach out to Obama to make a budget deal.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the president set the right tone for the future with his victory speech Tuesday night. Thirty-two percent (32%) disagree and think he did not set the right tone. Twenty-two percent (22%) 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 7, 2012 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.
November 8, 2012When Obama Won, So Did America's Future By Joe Conason
What Barack Obama tried to tell America in the hour of his remarkable victory is that the nation's future won on Election Day. Seeking to inspire and to heal, the reelected president offered an open hand to partisan opponents in the style that has always defined him.

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                            November 8, 201229% Say U.S. Doesn’t Spend Enough on Defense, 27% Say Too Much
With big defense spending cuts looming unless President Obama and the lame-duck Congress reach a deficit-cutting agreement, voters remain evenly divided over whether the United States spends too much or too little in this area. Slightly more rate the level of defense spending as about right.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 29% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States spends too much on the military and national security, but that’s down eight points from 37% in October 2011.  Nearly as many (27%) say the country doesn’t spend enough in this area. Thirty-eight percent (38%) view the amount spent on defense as about right. (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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 6, 2012 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.
November 7, 2012More Government By John Stossel
I expect that by the time you read this, President Obama will have been re-elected. Get ready for four more years of Big Bloated Government.