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March 7, 201230% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Thirty percent (30%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the week ending Sunday, March 4.
The latest finding continues the downward trend from 34% three weeks earlier, the highest level of optimism since April 2010. A week ago, 32% said the country is moving in the right direction.  From July 25 through December 11 of last year, the number of voters who were confident in the nation's current course resembled levels measured in the final months of the Bush administration, with voter confidence remaining in the narrow range of 14% to 19%. The number began climbing in mid-December along with gains in economic confidence but apparently peaked the week ending February 12.
(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 February 27-March 4, 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.
March 7, 2012Nebraska: Romney 52%, Obama 35%
The top two Republican presidential hopefuls hold double-digit leads over President Obama in Nebraska, a state which has gone for the GOP candidate in every presidential election but one since 1940.
The first Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Cornhusker State shows former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney leading the president by 17 points - 52% to 35%. Ten percent (10%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This Nebraska survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted March 5, 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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                            March 7, 201242% See Current Company As Best Chance For Advancement
Slightly fewer working Americans feel their best opportunity for career advancement is to stay put, and a few more are searching for work outside of their current company.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Employed Adults say they have a better opportunity for career advancement by staying within their current company.  That’s down from 47% in early January and the lowest level measured since July of last year.  Thirty-three percent (33%) feel going to work for someone else gives them more opportunity to get ahead. Twenty-five percent (25%) 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 survey of 606 Employed Adults was conducted on March 2-3, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 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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                            March 7, 201243% Say New Candidate Should Enter GOP Race; Most Republicans Disagree
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney may be winning the Republican presidential race, although he appears to be making himself a little less popular in the process. A plurality of voters think it would be better for the GOP if a new candidate jumped in the race, but most Republicans don’t agree.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters now hold at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Romney, but that includes just nine percent (9%) with a Very Favorable view of him. Forty-nine percent (49%) regard Romney at least somewhat unfavorably, with 23% who share a Very Unfavorable opinion. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 5-6, 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.
March 7, 2012Vulture Capitalism By John Stossel
Now that Mitt Romney is likely to be the Republican nominee, we can expect new attacks on his "vulture capitalism." That's how Rick Perry characterized his private equity work. Newt Gingrich's supporters ran an ad about Romney's firm, Bain Capital, that said, "Their greed was only matched by their willingness to do anything to make millions in profits."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            March 7, 201242% See U.S. Debt Default As Somewhat Likely
Looking overseas at the catastrophic economic problems plaguing Greece and other European nations, a sizable number of Americans still think the United States is also a candidate for default in the near future. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of American Adults believe it is at least somewhat likely that the U.S. government will default on its debt in the next five years. Forty-eight percent (48%) now rate a national debt default as unlikely. (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 American Adults nationwide was conducted on February 29 - March 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.
March 6, 201242% Give Obama Good or Excellent Marks for Leadership
Views of President Obama's leadership have narrowed again since his State of the Union address in January.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters now rate Obama’s leadership as good or excellent. This is down from 48% in January, his highest positives since September 2009. But nearly as many (40%) view him as a poor leader, up from 34% in January. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 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 by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            March 6, 2012Nebraska Senate: Bruning (R) 55%, Kerrey (D) 33%
Democrats hoped to give themselves a shot at holding onto a U.S. Senate seat in Nebraska by talking retired Senator Bob Kerrey into running, but the first Rasmussen Reports survey of the race finds Kerrey trailing all three of his leading Republican opponents. A new telephone survey of Likely Nebraska Voters finds state Attorney General Jon Bruning earning 55% support to Kerrey's 33%. Four percent (4%) like another candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) remain 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.
This Nebraska survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted March 5, 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.
March 6, 2012Rasmussen Employment Index Hits Highest Level Since 2008 Financial Crisis
The Rasmussen Employment Index, which measures workers’ perceptions of the labor market each month, jumped seven points in February to its highest level since September 2008. At 87.7, the index is up 11 points from three months ago and nine points from a year ago. The Employment Index is also nearly four points higher than the level measured in November 2010, which represented the peak of the post-bailout era. Worker confidence is less than half-a-point below the level measured just before the financial sector meltdown in late 2008.
March 6, 2012Obama, Romney Run Near Even When It Comes to Major Issues
It’s a neck-and-neck race between President Obama and Republican front-runner Mitt Romney when it comes to voter trust on several major issues including the economy.
Voters continue to  rate the economy well ahead of other issues in terms of importance to their vote in the upcoming election, and 45% of Likely U.S. Voters trust Romney more than the president when it comes to economic issues. But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that nearly as many (44%) trust Obama more. Eleven percent (11%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted March 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 by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
March 6, 2012What Limbaugh Is Really About By Froma Harrop
Too bad the Republican candidates had to comment on Rush Limbaugh's flaming attack on a female law student at Georgetown University. El Rushbo plays troubadour to the party's right wing from his home in its entertainment wing. The business of the entertainment wing is show business.  That means making money off talk shows, books and TV appearances -- and running the publicity machine at hysterical volume. It does not mean keeping the interests of the Republican Party foremost.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            March 6, 201265% Now Expect Romney To Be The Republican Nominee
Voters are even more convinced that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will be the Republican presidential nominee after his primary wins last week in Arizona and Michigan. Will Super Tuesday change that?
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Romney is likely to win the GOP nomination. That’s up from 54% a week earlier.  Just 14% expect Romney’s leading rival, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, to emerge as the party’s standard-bearer, down from 24% in the previous survey.
Only five percent (5%) think former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be the Republican nominee, and four percent (4%) predict Texas Congressman Ron Paul will be the eventual winner. Three percent (3%) say some other candidate is likely to be nominated, and eight percent (8%) are undecided. These findings are little changed from those in late February. (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 March 3-4, 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.
March 5, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 44%, Democrats 41%
Republicans hold a four-point lead over Democrats on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, Feb. 26. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% 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. Last week, the Republican led by just one point.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from February 20-26, 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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                            March 5, 201248% in Massachusetts Consider State's Health Care Reform A Success
More Massachusetts voters now think health care reform in the state has been successful, but just as many favor repeal of the national health care law passed into law two years ago.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Massachusetts Voters finds that 48% say health care reform in the Bay State has been a success. That's up from 26% in June 2009.  Twenty-eight percent (28%) think the reform effort has been a failure, down from 37% in the earlier survey. Almost as many (23%) 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 survey of 500 Likely Voters in Massachusetts was conducted on February 29, 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.
March 5, 2012Massachusetts:  Obama 55%, Romney 38%
Mitt Romney trails President Obama in a head-to-head matchup in Massachusetts, and voters in the Bay State have mixed feelings about their former governor who now wants to sit in the White House.  
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds Obama earning 55% support to Romney’s 38%.  Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, while three percent (3%) 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.
This Massachusetts survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted February 29, 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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                            March 5, 2012Georgia GOP Primary: Gingrich 37%, Romney 27%, Santorum 18%, Paul 10%
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is still comfortably ahead in the Republican race in his native state of Georgia with tomorrow’s Super Tuesday primary just hours away.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Georgia Republican Primary Voters, taken last night, shows Gingrich with 37% of the vote to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s 27%. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum remains in third place with 18% support, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul runs last with 10%. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are still 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.
This Georgia survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 4, 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.
March 5, 201253% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law
While Congress continues to battle over President Obama’s contraceptive mandate, most voters still favor repeal of the national health care law.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law, including 42% who Strongly Favor repeal.  Forty-two percent (42%) oppose repeal, with 30% who are Strongly Opposed.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 3-4, 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.
March 5, 2012James Q Wilson: A Happy American Life By Michael Barone
Few social scientists, and even fewer political scientists, have done as much to improve American life as James Q. Wilson, who died last week at age 80.
His name is familiar to three decades of college students who studied the American government textbook he co-authored, though one wonders whether they would recall it without the distinctive middle initial.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            March 5, 2012Ohio GOP Primary: Santorum 32%, Romney 31%, Gingrich 13%, Paul 13%
Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are tied in Ohio with the Super Tuesday primary vote just 24 hours away. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters in Ohio shows Santorum earning 32% support to Romney’s 31%. The survey was taken Sunday night. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Congressman Ron Paul run far behind, each with 13% of the vote. Three percent (3%) prefer another candidate, and six percent (6%) remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This Ohio survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 4, 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.
(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.
March 4, 2012Economy Still Number One on Voters' Minds
The economy remains far and away the most important thing on voters' minds this election season on a list of 10 key issues regularly surveyed by Rasmussen Reports.
A new national telephone survey finds that 82% of Likely U.S. Voters see the economy as a Very Important issue in terms of how they will vote in the next congressional election. That's up two points from  December, but generally consistent with findings since August 2007. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters each were conducted on February 22-23 and 26-27, 2011 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.