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March 14, 2012Florida Senate: Mack (R) 43%, Nelson (D) 36%
Republican Congressman Connie Mack now posts a seven-point lead over Democratic Senator Bill Nelson in Florida’s U.S. Senate race, and the incumbent remains just ahead of his other two potential GOP rivals.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Florida shows Mack with 43% support to Nelson’s 36%. Five percent (5%) like another candidate in the race, and a sizable 16% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This Florida survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on March 13, 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 14, 2012Complex Societies Need Simple Laws By John Stossel
"If you have 10,000 regulations," Winston Churchill said, "you destroy all respect for law." He was right. But Churchill never imagined a government that would add 10,000 year after year. That's what we have in America. We have 160,000 pages of rules from the feds alone. States and localities have probably doubled that. We have so many rules that legal specialists can't keep up.

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                            March 14, 201231% See Facebook As Bad For Society
Like it or not, the social networking site Facebook has had a big impact on today’s society, and Americans aren’t sure that’s a good thing. But regular Facebook users are much more enthusiastic than those who don't use the site.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 28% believe Facebook has been good for society. Thirty-one percent (31%) say the wildly popular site has been bad for society, while another 27% say neither is true. Fourteen percent (14%) 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 Adults was conducted on March 8-9, 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 13, 201246% Are Confident in Stability of U.S. Banking System
Confidence in the nation's banks remains well below where it was before the Wall Street meltdown in the fall of 2008, but most Americans still consider them a safe place to keep their money.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry, but that includes just six percent (6%) who are Very Confident. Most adults (51%) continue to lack confidence in America's banks, with 16% who are Not At All Confident. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 American Adults nationwide was conducted on March 10-11, 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 13, 2012California GOP Primary:  Romney 43%, Santorum 23%, Gingrich 15%, Paul 8%
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney holds a 20-point lead over Rick Santorum in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the delegate-rich California Republican primary.
A new statewide telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary Voters in the Golden State finds Romney earning 43% support, while the former Pennsylvania senator receives 23% of the vote.  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is a distant third with 15% support, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul runs last with eight percent (8%).  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and eight percent (8%) 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 California survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 12, 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.

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                            March 13, 2012Texas GOP Primary: Romney 32%, Santorum 30%, Gingrich 19%, Paul 9%
Looking down the road to one of the biggest delegate prizes of them all, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are in a near tie in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the Texas Republican Primary. A new telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters in Texas finds Romney earning 32% support to Santorum’s 30%. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich picks up 19% of the vote, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul runs fourth with nine percent (9%). Three percent (3%) like another candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
This Texas survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on March 12, 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.

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                            March 13, 2012Just 29% Believe Limbaugh Apology Was Sincere
Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh’s recent comments about a female Georgetown University law student who argued in support of the Obama administration's contraception mandate sparked controversy and caused some advertisers to quit his show. Yet while most voters are critical of Limbaugh's comments, they are evenly divided over whether talk show hosts in general have a responsibility to not offend anyone. 
 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that only 29% believe Limbaugh’s apology for his recent comments was sincere. Fifty-three percent (53%) do not think his apology was sincere, and another 18% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on March 11-12, 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 13, 201276% Favor Maximum Tax Payment of 20%
Nearly half of U.S. voters still think the average person in this country pays 30% or more of their income in taxes, and instead they believe overwhelmingly that the ceiling for those taxes should be 20% at the most.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 30%% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that the average American pays 30% of their income for federal, state and local taxes. That is a fairly good estimate. According to www.taxfoundation.org, Americans pay approximately 28% of their total income in taxes.
Fifteen percent (15%) overestimate how much the average American pays and believe the actual tax paid is 40% or more.
Three times as many, 47%, underestimate the tax burden and believe the average American pays 20% or less of their income in taxes. (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 March 7-8, 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 13, 2012The Real Problem With Online Anonymity By Froma Harrop
Who is writing that brilliant, stupid, nasty, brave and/or dishonest online comment? We haven't a clue, because the author hasn't shared his or her name, hometown, gender, age and/or nationality. Or even worse, the author pretends to be another real person. Scammers, misfits, crooks, creeps, criminals and nice people all venture through cyberspace without identifying themselves. We can only guess what they're up to.
March 12, 2012Generic Congressional Ballot: Republican 44%, Democrats 38%
Republicans hold a six-point lead over Democrats on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, March 11. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 38% would choose the Democrat instead. Last week, the Republican led by three points, 44% to 41%.
The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from March 5-11, 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 12, 201259% View Obama As More Liberal Than They Are
The number of voters who consider President Obama more liberal than they are has risen this month to its highest level since last October.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters now think, in political terms, that the president is more liberal than they are. That's up from 52% last month and an all-time low of 51% in December.  In March 2011, a high of 61% felt the president was more liberal.
Eleven percent (11%) feel the president is more conservative than they are, and 25% say his views are about the same as their own.  (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 March 7-8, 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 12, 201233% Think Employers Have Right to Fire Those Who Post Inappropriate Facebook Content
Some companies and colleges are requiring applicants to provide full access to their Facebook pages, and most Americans don’t like the idea. However, one-in-three think it's okay for employers to fire workers who post inappropriate content on the social networking site.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that only 19% believe it would be appropriate for a potential employer to ask for access to their Facebook page as part of the hiring process. Most (69%) don’t believe this is appropriate, while 12% are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 8-9, 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 12, 201237% Say Their Views More Like Obama’s; 53% Pick One of GOP Contenders
Ask voters which presidential contender’s views are more like their own, and just 37% say President Obama. Most (53%) say they think more like one of the four Republican presidential hopefuls. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 16% of Likely U.S. Voters say when it comes to the important issues facing the nation, their views are more like former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s. An identical number (16%) say they think more like Rick Santorum. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters nationwide was conducted on March 9-10, 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 12, 2012Romney May Recapture Upscale Whites for the GOP By Michael Barone
In the cold, gray numbers of election returns and exit poll percentages, a reader with some imagination can find clues to people's deep feelings, their hopes and fears, their self-images and moral values.

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                            March 12, 201252% Worry Government Will Do Too Much Trying To Help Economy
Amidst signs the economy is reviving at least slightly, most voters now fear the government may mess things up by getting too involved.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 52% of Likely U.S. Voters now worry the federal government will do too much in reacting to the nation’s current economic problems. Thirty-six percent (36%) are more concerned that the government will not do enough. Twelve percent (12%) now 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 nationwide was conducted on March 9-10, 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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                            March 11, 2012One Week in America
Americans were pretty busy last week.
Rasmussen Reports asked Americans what they did the previous week, and this is what our new national telephone survey found out. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Eighty-four percent (84%) of American Adults watched the news on television.
Seventy-one percent (71%) went out to eat.
Sixty-seven percent (67%) played a sport or did some kind of physical activity.
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 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.
March 11, 2012Voters Evenly Divided On Obama’s Handling of Economy
The number of voters who give President Obama positive marks for his handling of the economy is at its highest level in over two years of regular tracking.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters rate the president’s handling of economic issues as good or excellent, up two points from a month ago and his best showing since mid-February 2010.  Forty-two percent (42%) still rate Obama’s performance in this area as poor, but that's the lowest level of criticism since last June. (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. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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                            March 10, 201234% See Daylight Saving Time As An Energy Saver
Tonight's the night to change the clocks for Daylight Saving Time (DST), and Americans continue to have decidedly mixed feelings about the need for that change.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of American Adults think DST is worth the hassle, but nearly as many (40%) disagree. Fifteen percent (15%) 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 Adults was conducted on March 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.
March 10, 2012What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending March 9, 2012
Following Super Tuesday, the perception is growing that Mitt Romney will be the Republican presidential nominee. By week’s end, Romney had moved ahead of the president in head-to-head polling.
In Alabama, the GOP Primary race is essentially a three-way tie, while Romney leads by eight in Mississippi.  Nationally, Romney now leads Rick Santorum by 12 points.  Regardless of who they want to win, 80% of Republican Primary Voters believe Romney will be the party's nominee.
Romney leads Obama by five points in a hypothetical 2012 matchup. Saturday's numbers show Romney at 48%, Obama at 43%. That’s Romney’s largest lead since December and it comes at a time when the president’s job approval has been slipping a bit. Matchup results and the president’s Job Approval ratings are updated daily at 9:30 a.m. Eastern (sign up for free daily e-mail update).
This is taking place as the economy remains far and away the most important thing on voters' minds this election season.  Eighty-two percent (82%) of Likely U.S. Voters see the economy as a Very Important issue in terms of how they will vote in the next election. Nothing else comes close.

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                            March 9, 2012New High: 50% View Boehner Unfavorably
House Speaker John Boehner is less liked than ever, but voters still reserve their lowest opinions for Democratic congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 32% of Likely U.S. Voters share at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Boehner. But 50% now view the Ohio Republican at least somewhat unfavorably, up seven points from last month and his highest unfavorable rating since he took over as speaker of the House in January of last year. Eighteen percent (18%) still don’t know enough about him to venture an opinion. The new findings include eight percent (8%) with a Very Favorable opinion of Boehner and 26% with a Very Unfavorable one. (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.