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                            August 9, 201287% Oppose Letting Government Officials Play Politics In the Marketplace
When the president of Chick-fil-A spoke out in support of traditional marriage in a recent interview, the mayors of Boston, Chicago and San Francisco angrily responded by saying the fast-food chain wasn’t welcome in their cities. But voters overwhelmingly believe those mayors should butt out.
Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Likely U.S. Voters say government officials should not be allowed to prohibit a business from opening if they disagree with the political views of the business owner. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only three percent (3%) think government officials should have the power to stop businesses because they disagree politically with the owners. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
August 9, 2012Conservatives Outsource Moralizing to Liberals by Froma Harrop
It's a given in many conservative circles that the rise of single-parent families is the biggest cause of increasing economic inequality and that liberals are to blame. The first "given" is correct. The second "given" is entirely in conservative heads -- though a means to play politics without doing the heavy lifting.
August 9, 2012Platinum Service Members Get a New, Enhanced Look at Presidential Tracking
Rasmussen Reports is now providing new in-depth presidential tracking data exclusively for our Platinum Service members.While topline data of who’s winning and by how much is available to the public, Platinum Members can take a much deeper dive into the numbers with daily demographic updates and a host of additional information. The Platinum data includes daily updates on how closely various demographic groups are following the election. This is a key indicator of potential turnout. Additionally, the data measures the level of commitment offered to both candidates. Who could still change their mind? And, the data shows daily results “with leaners.” How does the race look when those who are uncommitted to either candidate are pushed to say which way they are leaning.
August 9, 2012More Scared of History Than Destined To Repeat It by Michael Barone
Traumas suffered by a society generations ago can still have a negative effect centuries later.
August 9, 2012Virginia Senate: Allen (R) 46%, Kaine (D) 46%
George Allen and Tim Kaine remain deadlocked in Virginia’s U.S. Senate race.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Virginia Voters finds Republican Allen and Democrat Kaine each earning 46% support. Two percent (2%) like another candidate in the race, and six percent (6%) 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 500 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on August 7, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
August 8, 201227% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Twenty-seven percent (27%) 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, August 5.
That's down two points from 29% the week before and the lowest finding since late June.

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                            August 8, 2012Americans Dramatically Underestimate Cost of Employer Payroll Taxes
Voters believe America is overtaxed even though most Americans seriously underestimate the amount of taxes they actually pay.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 54% of American Adults recognize that employers pay additional taxes on top of the wages paid to an employee. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
August 8, 2012Virginia:  Obama 48%, Romney 46%
President Obama and Mitt Romney continue to run within two percentage points of each other in the key battleground state of Virginia. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Old Dominion finds Obama with 48% support, while Romney picks up 46% of the vote. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and three percent (3%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Virginia was conducted on August 7, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 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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                            August 8, 201261% Hold Favorable Opinion of Chick-fil-A
Ever since the president of Chick-fil-A volunteered his definition of marriage, the fast food chain has been the center of attention for friends and foes. While most voters view Chick-fil-A favorably, most don’t plan to change their eating habits because of the controversy.
Just 13% of Likely U.S. Voters are likely to participate in a boycott of Chick-fil-A restaurants, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Seventy-seven percent (77%) do not plan to boycott the Chick-fil-A restaurants because of the controversy. Ten percent (10%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
August 8, 2012Wars To End War by John Stossel
On his recent trip abroad, Mitt Romney observed an American taboo by not criticizing President Obama's military policy. But before his trip, he made his position clear. Obama has "exposed the military to cuts that no one can justify," Romney said.

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                            August 8, 201227% Favor Extending School Year to All 12 Months
Roughly one-in-four American Adults (27%) continue to favor extending the school year to a 12-month calendar, but 66% are opposed, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Among adults who have children at home who attend elementary or secondary schools, 30% support year-round schooling, and 58% are opposed. (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 August 1-2, 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.
August 8, 2012What America Thinks, Nationally Syndicated TV Show, to Launch One Month from Today
The nationally syndicated half-hour weekly television show will be launched on more than 50 television stations, headlined by WCBS in New York and KCBS in Los Angeles. Additionally, beginning next week, all affiliated stations will receive daily news updates from Scott Rasmussen to be used as part of local newscasts. The updates will highlight the latest polling data on current events, business topics and Election 2012.

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                            August 7, 2012Voters Are Less Insistent That Immigrants Adopt U.S. Culture
Most voters continue to believe that people who move to the United States should adopt American cultures, but that number has reached a new low this month. Two-thirds of Likely U.S. Voters (66%) now say people who move to America should adopt American culture and language, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s down from 71% last month. Nineteen percent (19%) say immigrants should maintain the culture, language and heritage of their home country instead, consistent with surveying for much of this year. Nearly as many (15%) now are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 2-3, 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.

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                            August 7, 201244% Say Jobs Market Worse Than A Year Ago
Confidence in the U.S. job market has fallen again, with the highest number of Americans in 10 months describing the employment situation as worse than it was a year ago.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 24% of American Adults believe the job market is better than a year ago. Forty-four percent (44%) say that market is worse now, up 15 points from early June when only 29% felt that way. Thirty percent (30%) describe it as about the same. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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                            August 7, 2012Colorado: Romney, Obama Tied At 47% Each
Mitt Romney and President Obama continue to run even in Colorado.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds both men earning 47% support.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, while two percent (2%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Colorado was conducted on August 6, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 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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                            August 7, 201256% Think Loan Guarantees for Solyndra Were A Bad Idea
Most voters don’t think the federal government should have invested in the failed alternative energy firm Solyndra which ended up costing taxpayers more than a half-billion dollars. But most also think it’s business as usual for government officials to help companies they like.
Just 16% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it was a good idea for the government to provide loan guarantees for Solyndra, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-six percent (56%) disagree and say it was not a good idea for the government to help fund the company this way. Twenty-eight percent (28%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.
August 7, 2012The Grand Old Party's Breaking Up by Froma Harrop
When traditional Republicans tell their tea party wing that they have to negotiate with Democrats, the radicals' frequent response is: No, they don't. One side has to win. But before that fistfight at the edge of the falls can take place, one side has to win within the Republican Party. Civil wars are not pretty.

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                            August 7, 201248% Think Hillary Clinton Might Run for President in 2016
Will she or won’t she? Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said she has no further political ambitions, but a sizable number of voters think she may run again for the presidency.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that Mrs. Clinton will run for president in 2016, but that includes just 17% who say it’s Very Likely. Thirty-six percent (36%) think she is unlikely to make a bid for the White House four years from now, but only seven percent (7%) feel it’s Not At All Likely. Seventeen percent (17%) 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 2-3, 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.
August 6, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 42%, Democrats 39%
Republicans lead Democrats by three points on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the fifth week in a row, this time for the week ending Sunday, August 5.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Democrat instead.
August 6, 2012Our View of the Third Party Option in Presidential Polling
Over the past couple of weeks, many people have asked why we're not including Gary Johnson by name in our tracking poll (we do include "some other candidate").
Some people believe that including Johnson will show a deep level of support for a third party candidate. Some even believe he could generate enough polling support to qualify for participation in the Presidential debates. Others say he could steal votes away from one of the leading candidates and ultimately impact who will win the race.