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February 8, 201229% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction
Twenty-nine percent (29%) 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, February 5.
The latest finding shows no change from the previous week, the highest level of optimism measured in weekly tracking since May of last year.  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%. But that finding has climbed steadily since then.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports January 30-February 5, 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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                            February 8, 201253% Approve of Obama in Michigan
Most voters in Michigan now like the job President Obama is doing as president, but voters give mixed marks to their new governor, Republican Rick Snyder.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Michigan finds that 53% approve of the presidents’ job performance, while 45% disapprove. This includes 34% who Strongly Approve and an identical 34% who Strongly Disapprove. (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 Michigan survey of 1,806 Likely Voters was conducted on February 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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                            February 8, 2012Most GOP Voters Still Think Romney Will Be The Nominee
Even before Rick Santorum’s trifecta on Tuesday, he was one of the most popular of the Republican presidential candidates, but he’s never remotely challenged Mitt Romney for the top slot when GOP voters are asked who is most likely to be their nominee. The test for Santorum in the days ahead is to see if he can convince voters otherwise.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, taken just before the voting on Tuesday, finds that 75% of Likely Republican Primary Voters nationwide believe Romney will ultimately be the GOP presidential nominee. Just 11% expect former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to win, with three percent (3%) who predict Santorum will come out on top. Only one percent (1%) think Texas Congressman Ron Paul will be the party’s standard bearer. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on February 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.

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                            February 8, 201250% Oppose Gov't Mandate for Religious Organizations to Provide Contraceptives
Half of voters do not agree with the Obama administration’s action forcing Catholic institutions to pay for birth control measures that they morally oppose. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the government should require a church or religious organization to provide contraceptives for women even if it violates their deeply held beliefs. Fifty percent (50%) disagree and oppose such a requirement that runs contrary to strong beliefs, while 10% more 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 February 6-7, 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.
February 8, 2012Government Can't Make Us Happy By John Stossel
In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson called the pursuit of happiness an unalienable right. This was a radical idea. For most of history, most people didn't think much about pursuing happiness. They were too busy just trying to survive.

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                            February 8, 201243% Say Random Choices From Phone Book Better Than Current Congress
With positive ratings for Congress at an all-time low, it may come as no surprise that a plurality of voters nationwide believes a group of people randomly selected from a telephone book would do a better job than the current legislators. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 43% believe a group of people randomly selected from the phone book would do a better job than the current Congress. Thirty-eight percent (38%) disagree with that assessment, while another 19% 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 2-3, 2012 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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                            February 7, 201256% Rarely Go To Movies
Most Americans rarely take a trip to the theater to see a movie, preferring instead to watch them in the comfort of their own home.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults rarely or never go to the movies, showing no change from this time last year. Thirty-two percent (32%) "occasionally" go out to the movies, while 12% do so at least once a month.  Only two percent (2%) go at least once a week. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 3-4, 2012 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.
February 7, 2012National GOP: Romney 34%, Gingrich 27%, Santorum 18%, Paul 11%
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney now holds a seven-point lead over Newt Gingrich to reclaim the lead in the national race for the Republican presidential nomination.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters shows Romney with 34% support to Gingrich’s 27%.  Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania gets 18% of the vote, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul runs last with 11%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on February 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.

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                            February 7, 201252% Lack Confidence In Stability of U.S. Banking System
Most Americans remain unsure about the state of banks in this country.
The latest 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 that includes just 10% who are Very Confident.  Most adults (52%), in fact, lack confidence in the country’s banking system, with 15% who are Not At All Confident in it.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on February 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.

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                            February 7, 201267% Favor Ending U.S. Combat Role in Afghanistan by Next Year
Voters strongly favor the Obama administration’s plan to wrap up U.S. combat action in Afghanistan by the middle of next year, and most think there’s a good chance the plan will succeed as proposed. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of Likely U.S. Voters favor ending the U.S. combat military mission in Afghanistan by the middle of next year. Just 22% are opposed to ending combat actions by then. Eleven percent (11%) 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 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on February 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.
February 7, 2012What Komen Affair Means for November By Froma Harrop
The blowup at Susan G. Komen for the Cure set off a political alarm that Republicans dare not ignore. The leading breast cancer group, Komen tried playing Republican-base politics by cutting its funding to Planned Parenthood for breast-health services. The sisterhood and its allies exploded, and Komen reversed course with abject apologies.

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                            February 7, 201259% Say Election Rules 'Rigged' To Help Congressional Incumbents
Fewer than half of voters nationwide still believe elections are generally fair. Most think the system is rigged to benefit incumbents in Congress.The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. voters shows that 48% believe elections are fair to voters, but nearly as many (42%) disagree. Ten percent (10%) 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 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on February 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.
February 6, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot:  Republicans 43%, Democrats 41%
Republicans have regained the lead over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, Feb. 5. 
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 41% would choose the Democrat instead.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from January 30-February 5, 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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                            February 6, 201223% Support Ongoing Federal Support For Long-Term Unemployed
More Americans than ever think the federal government should do nothing when it comes to those who are unemployed for an extended period of time.  At the same time, the number of adults who believe in ongoing government support for the unemployed is at its lowest level yet.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that just 14% believe the government should hire unemployed people who can’t find work for an extended period of time, while only nine percent (9%) favor extending unemployment benefits indefinitely. Rejecting a permanent role for the government, 30% still believe the government should help the long term unemployed by paying for their retraining. Thirty-seven percent (37%) believe the government should do nothing at all for those individuals, while another 10% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on February 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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                            February 6, 2012If Israel Attacks Iran, 48% Want U.S. to Help Israel
Voters nationwide remain firmly convinced that Iran is likely to develop a nuclear weapon in the near future, and if so, will use it against Israel. At the same time, most also think an Israeli attack on Iran is likely to happen within the next year.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 83% believe it is at least somewhat likely Iran will develop a nuclear weapon in the near future, including 50% who say that is Very Likely to happen. Only 11% say it’s Not Very or Not At All Likely Iran will develop a nuclear weapon soon. (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 February 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.
February 6, 2012Box-checking Obama in a Liberal Cocoon By Michael Barone
It's unusual when a reporter sympathetic to a politician writes a story that makes his subject look bad. But Ryan Lizza of The New Yorker has now done this twice.
The first time was in an article last April on Obama's foreign policy in which he quoted a "top aide" (National Security Adviser Tom Donilon? It sounds like him) saying that the president was "leading from behind" on Libya. Not what most Americans expect their presidents to do.
Now, in an article based on leaked White House memos marked up by Obama, Lizza has done it again.
February 6, 201254% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law, 43% Say It Will Be Bad For U.S.
While a majority of U.S. voters continues to favor repeal of the national health care law, the number who believes it will be good for the country is at an all-time high. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% of Likely Voters at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law, while 41% oppose repeal.  These figures include 39% who Strongly Favor repeal and 27% who Strongly Oppose it.  (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 February 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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                            February 6, 2012In Arizona, Obama Approval at 41%
Many Democrats have high hopes for the Southwest in Election 2012 and some even think that President Obama even has a decent shot to move Arizona from Republican to Democrat in the Electoral College column this November. However, the president may have an uphill fight to achieve that goal as most voters in the Grand Canyon State disapprove of the way he’s done his job.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone poll found that just 41% of Likely Voters in Arizona approve of the way President Obama has performed his role. Fifty-six percent (56%) disapprove. Those figures are significantly lower than the president’s national ratings. They include 28% who Strongly Approve and 48% who Strongly Disapprove. (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 Arizona survey of 1,230 Likely Voters was conducted on February 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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                            February 5, 2012Game Day: 63% Will Watch Super Bowl, Most Will Be At Home
It’s finally here: the much-anticipated Super Bowl rematch between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, and most Americans will be watching.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 63% plan on watching the Super Bowl XLVI today, while 31% are not. (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 1,807 Adults Who Will Watch the Super Bowl was conducted on January 30, 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.
February 4, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls For The Week Ending February 4, 2012
Mitt Romney’s victory in Florida put him back on top as the clear frontrunner in the race for the GOP nomination. Rasmussen Reports and others had accurately projected Romney’s victory in advance but the fact that he got more votes than Gingrich and Santorum combined still caught many observers off guard.
Romney is expected to win big in Nevada today and has leads in the next two primary states—Michigan and Arizona. A commentary by Larry Sabato and his colleagues, however, suggests, that the race for the Republican nomination is unlikely to end any time soon. Michael Barone adds that Romney Faces Tough Opponents in a Long War.
Rasmussen Reports has begun daily tracking of the possible Obama-Romney match-up and is updating numbers for other GOP candidates on a rotating basis.