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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.

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                            August 2, 201237% Consider Romney’s Views Extreme, 47% Say Same of Obama’s
Voters are more likely to believe Mitt Romney’s views are in the mainstream than extreme, but are evenly divided on President Obama’s views.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 51% regard Romney’s views as mainstream. Thirty-seven percent (37%) say it would be more accurate to describe the presumptive GOP nominee’s views as extreme. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Views of the president are more evenly divided. While 44% believe it’s accurate to describe President Obama’s views as mainstream, 47% describe his views as extreme.
(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 U.S. Voters was conducted on July 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.
August 1, 201229% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Twenty-nine percent (29%) 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, July 29.
That's down a point from 30% the week before.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports July 23-29, 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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                            August 1, 201241% Dining Out Less Often Than They Were Six Months Ago
Fewer Americans than ever say they are going out to eat less often than they were six months ago.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 41% of American Adults say they are dining out at a restaurant less often compared to six months ago.  Only five percent (5%) say they are going out to eat more often, while a majority (53%) is dining out about the same as they were six months ago. (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 nationwide was conducted on July 30-31, 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 1, 2012GOP Edge in Partisan ID Slips to 2012 Low
The number of Americans who consider themselves Republicans fell for the second straight month while the number of Democrats held steady.
During July, 34.9% of Americans considered themselves Republicans. That’s down from 35.4% in June and from 35.7% in May.
The number of Democrats held steady at 34.0%. That marks a partial recovery for the president’s party. In February, just 32.4% described themselves as Democrats, the lowest level ever measured by Rasmussen Reports. Still, while the 34.0% figure is the best for Democrats in 2012, it’s down from earlier years.
Rasmussen Reports tracks this information based on telephone interviews with approximately 15,000 adults per month since November 2002. The margin of error for the full sample is less than one percentage point, with a 95% level of confidence.
August 1, 2012Myths We Live By By John Stossel
The Olympics have gone smoothly despite -- gasp! -- America's team wearing clothing made in China at the opening ceremony. "I'm so upset," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "Take all the uniforms, put them in a big pile, and burn them. ... We have people in the textile industry who are desperate for jobs."
August 1, 2012Missouri: McCaskill Still Trails, But Closes Gap
Missouri Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill still trails her Republican challengers, but by smaller margins compared to a month ago.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Missouri Voters shows State Treasurer Sarah Steelman and retired businessman John Brunner each leading the incumbent 49% to 43%. If the race is between McCaskill and GOP Congressman Todd Akin, it’s Akin 47%, McCaskill 44%. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Missouri was conducted on July 30, 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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                            August 1, 201234% Say Supreme Court Doing Good or Excellent Job
Ratings for the U.S. Supreme Court’s performance are a bit less negative than they were immediately following the health care ruling.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that 34% say the Supreme Court is doing a good or excellent job. Twenty-two percent (22%) give the Supreme Court a poor rating. (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 U.S. Voters was conducted on July 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.