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                            August 6, 2012Most Americans Favor More School Spending Until The Price Tag Is Attached
Most Americans don't think the government spends enough on public education until they find out how much it really does spend on schools. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 29% of American Adults believe the government spends too much on public education.  Fifty-two percent (52%) disagree and feel the government doesn’t spend enough. Thirteen percent (13%) say the level of government spending is about right.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
August 6, 2012Only 32% Think Bill Clinton, Obama See Eye-to-Eye on Economy
Bill Clinton will have a prominent role at the upcoming Democratic National Convention to give a boost to President Obama’s reelection campaign, but voters aren’t sure if the two men agree on how to fix the economy.
Just 32% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Clinton and Obama hold similar views on how to fix the economy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Slightly more (39%) think they have differing views on what’s needed, and another 29% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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                            August 6, 2012The President's Monthly Approval Numbers Hold Steady In July
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 July, the president's Total Job Approval Rating held steady at 47%.  Since the beginning of 2012, that finding has remained in the narrow range of 47% to 49%.  This time last year, the president had an approval rating of 46%.  In January 2009, however, 62% of voters approved of Obama's job performance.
 
 In July, 52% disapproved of the president's performance, also showing no change from the previous month. The number who disapproves of Obama's performance has stayed in the low to mid-50s since August 2009. When the president assumed office, only 34% disapproved.
August 6, 2012Supporters of Ted Cruz and Chick-fil-A Break News by Michael Barone
Americans keep behaving in ways that baffle the liberal mainstream media. Two examples figured prominently -- or should have -- in last week's news.
August 6, 2012Opposition to Repeal of Health Care Law Hits New High: 44%
Fifty percent (50%) of Likely U.S. Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of President Obama’s national health care law, while 44% are opposed, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s the highest level of opposition to repeal since the law was passed by Congress in March 2010.
The latest findings include 40% who Strongly Favor repeal and 35% who Strongly Oppose it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 4-5, 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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                            August 5, 2012New High: 52% Are Pro-Choice
More voters than ever are now pro-choice when it comes to abortion, but just as many view it as morally wrong in most situations.
Overall, 52% of Likely U.S. Voters consider themselves pro-choice when it comes to abortion, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Forty-one percent (41%) say they are pro-life. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 31-August 1, 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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                            August 5, 2012Romney Up Big in Indiana
Four years ago, President Obama became the first Democrat since 1964 to win Indiana. He looks unlikely to repeat that feat.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds challenger Mitt Romney picking up 51% of the vote while the president earns just 35%.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and 11% are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The Indiana survey of 400 Likely Voters was conducted July 31-August 1, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports.  The margin of sampling error is +/- 5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.

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                            August 4, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls -- For The Week Ending August 4, 2012
The frustration in America these days runs deep. Just 14% think today’s children will be better off than their parents. That’s the most pessimistic assessment ever and the number is even lower among those with children at home. Worker’s confidence in the jobs market has fallen to the lowest level of 2012. Long-term optimism about the economy is at the lowest level ever recorded. Just 40% believe the U.S. economy will be stronger in FIVE years. That’s down from 62% in January 2009.

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                            August 3, 201228% Conservative on Both Fiscal, Social Issues
A plurality of U.S. voters considers themselves fiscal conservatives, but they are more evenly divided when it comes to social issues. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely Voters now define themselves as conservative when it comes to fiscal issues such as taxes, government spending and business regulation. Thirty-six percent (36%) characterize themselves as moderates in this area.  Just 14% are fiscal liberals.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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                            August 3, 201266% Say Formal Education Key to Success in Life, Not Street Smarts
With the start of school right around the corner, most Americans continue to believe that what you learn inside the classroom is more valuable than what’s learned on the outside.
Two-out-of-three (66%) American Adults say formal education is more important for success in life than street smarts, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.  Twenty-one percent (21%) think street smarts are more valuable, while another 14% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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                            August 3, 2012Indiana Senate: Mourdock (R) 42%, Donnelly (D) 40%
The U.S. Senate race in Indiana remains a dead heat between Democratic Congressman Joe Donnelly and Tea Party-backed State Treasurer Richard Mourdock. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Hoosier State finds Mourdock earning 42% of the vote, while Donnelly draws support from 40%.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, but another 15% are still undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
August 3, 2012'Kiss My Ass': Fear and Loathing in the Romney Campaign by Joe Conason
If Mitt Romney's purpose in traveling abroad this summer was to prove his credentials as a potential world leader, the verdict is mixed at best. Neither his tendency to utter bizarre insults nor his shallow, ideological approach to policy inspired much confidence, although he managed to garner support from Israel's right-wing prime minister and an eccentric former leader in Poland. (Our allies in the United Kingdom may never want to hear from him again.)
August 3, 2012Tight National Race Freezes Electoral College Map By Kyle Kondik and Larry J. Sabato
While no one enjoys dissecting the presidential swing states more than we do, we also recognize that swings in the states are oftentimes uniform -- as in, changes in the national polls will trickle down to the states.

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                            August 3, 2012The Heavy Burden of Government By Scott Rasmussen
In my hometown, everyone is required to have a landline telephone so local officials can reach us with a reverse 911 call.    
It's a nice idea, but it doesn't work. In my family, we never use the landline. We talk on cellphones. Occasionally, telemarketers call. So do people looking for someone named "Danny," but we no longer answer. So, if a call came from our local government, we'd never hear their message. But when you're building a house and need to pass inspection, it's easier to put in the phone than fight city hall.

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                            August 2, 201245% Say Medicare is a Good Deal for Working Americans
Fewer voters now feel that Medicare is a good deal for working Americans today, and most are still not confident that they will receive all their promised benefits.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters say Medicare is a good deal for working Americans today, down from an all-time high of 49% in June. Thirty percent (30%) say it is not a good deal, but another 24% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on July 25-26, 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 2, 201268% Are Confident About Nutritional Info on Restaurant Menus
A majority of Americans continue to trust the nutritional information they find in menus and on menu boards at restaurants across the country.
Sixty-eight percent (68%) of American Adults are at least somewhat confident about the accuracy of nutritional information published on menus, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-three percent (23%) are not confident in the accuracy of the nutrition information.
These findings include 20% who are Very Confident and just four percent (4%) who are Not At All Confident. They also show little change from January. (To see survey question wording, click here)

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                            August 2, 2012North Carolina: Romney 49%, Obama 44%
Mitt Romney has a five-point edge over President Obama in the battleground state of North Carolina. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Tar Heel State finds Romney with 49% support, while the president earns 44% of the vote.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and another four percent (4%) 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 North Carolina was conducted on August 1, 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.
August 2, 2012Partisan Divide: Eggheads Get What They Wished For By Michael Barone
"Answered prayers," Saint Teresa of Avila is supposed to have said, "cause more tears than those that go unanswered." Especially, I fear, the answered prayers of political scientists.

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                            August 2, 2012Voters Split on Whether Romney or Obama Would Make Better Foreign Policy Leader
Mitt Romney’s campaign portrayed his quick overseas trip as a success. President Obama’s team described the trip as an embarrassment and a gaffe-fest. When it ended, voters remain evenly divided between the candidates on foreign policy issues.  Forty-four percent (44%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the president is better able to deal with America’s allies. Another 44% say Romney is better for that task. A Rasmussen national telephone survey also found virtually identical results on the question of who is better poised to deal with our enemies—44% picked Romney and 43% named the president. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
August 2, 2012Politically and Otherwise, the Mountain West Swings by Froma Harrop
When the sun goes down, the new Mountain West comes out swinging. Denver's Larimer Square and LoDo (Lower Downtown) district turns into a multicultural Mixmaster of educated professionals, ordinary folk and tourists jamming bars, hamburger joints, steak palaces and French bistros. Meanwhile, armies of largely Spanish-speaking immigrants work the kitchens and vacuum the deserted offices. For all the legends of the spacious West, the region is one of the most urbanized.