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December 15, 2011

Romney Bets on Old Rules as Newt Moves Under Radar By Michael Barone

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- "We're not going to lose in New Hampshire." So says Mitt Romney's state coordinator, Jason McBride.

Stuart Stevens, the Romney campaign's TV ad-maker, expresses similar confidence. Asked if Romney might finish second in New Hampshire, his answer is an unhesitating "no."

December 15, 2011

44% Confident in U.S. Banking Industry, 48% Are Not

While confidence in the nation’s banking industry is up from last month, roughly one-in-three Americans are still worried they will lose their money as a result of a bank failure.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the U.S. banking industry today, including eight percent (8%) who are Very Confident.

(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 December 11-12, 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.

December 15, 2011

Iowa: Romney 23%, Gingrich 20%, Paul 18%

For the fifth straight survey, the GOP field has a new frontrunner in Iowa.  (video)

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December 15, 2011

Driving Under the Influence of Cellphones By Froma Harrop

Moving at a stately 30 miles an hour, the woman drove her tank-like vehicle right through the stop sign and almost through me as I crossed the street. Like the psychiatrist assigning mental illness at the mere sound of crazy shouting, I didn't have to look at the motorist. I just knew from her behavior that she was yakking on a cellphone. Sure enough, she was.

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December 14, 2011

19% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Nineteen percent (19%) 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, December 11.  That’s the highest level of optimism measured in nearly three months.  

The latest finding is up two points from last week but is down four points from this time last year.

The national telephone survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports December 5-11, 2011. 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.

December 14, 2011

45% Say Democrats, Republicans in Congress Are Extreme

A plurality of voters now thinks the agendas of both major political parties in Congress are equally extreme. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the agenda of congressional Republicans is extreme, and the identical number (45%) say the same of congressional Democrats. Thirty-seven percent (37%) think the GOP agenda is mainstream, while 38% feel that's true of the agenda followed by Democrats in Congress.

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December 14, 2011

Election 2012: Obama 49%, Gingrich 39%

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich now trails President Obama by double digits, his second straight weekly decline since becoming the GOP frontrunner. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters finds Obama earning 49% of the vote, while Gingrich receives 39% support.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 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.

December 14, 2011

52% Support Arizona-Like Immigration Law in Their State

The U.S. Supreme Court Monday announced it will decide whether the Arizona immigration law passed last year violates the Constitution, and a new survey finds that half of voters still support a similar immigration law for their own state.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 52% favor passage of an immigration law similar to Arizona’s in their state. Thirty-four percent (34%) oppose such a law in their state, while 15% 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 national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 12-13, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points ith 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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December 14, 2011

Newt's Past and Future Leadership By Tony Blankley

Almost all political commentators agree on one thing. The Republican presidential campaign is unlike any we have experienced. It is not a campaign of steady trends and continuities, but rather of emotional reversals and discontinuities. Perhaps this is so because the last 3 to 4 years have been a shocking time of discontinuities and reversals for America.

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December 14, 2011

Scott Rasmussen Talks New Hampshire Republican Primary on Fox News

Scott talks to Alisyn Camerota about the New Hampshire Primary and Donald Trump's decision to withdraw as moderator of a Republican debate.

December 14, 2011

New Hampshire: Little Interest in Palin or Daniels Entering Race for GOP Nomination

With three weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses officially launch the 2012 election season, many analysts have suggested that there is still time for someone new to enter the race for the GOP nomination.  While there may still be time, there is currently little enthusiasm for a couple of the bigger names to jump into the field.

December 13, 2011

The Rasmussen Reports Track Record

2010-- In December 2009, a full 11 months before Election Day. A Democratic strategist concluded that if the Rasmussen Reports Generic Congressional Ballot data was accurate, Republicans would gain 62 seats in the House during the 2010 elections. Other polls at the time suggested the Democrats would retain a comfortable majority. The Republicans gained 63 seats in the 2010 elections.

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December 13, 2011

Election 2012: Generic Republican 47%, Obama 42%

A generic Republican candidate leads President Obama by five points in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup for the week ending Sunday, December 11.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the generic Republican earning 47% support to Obama's 42%.  Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, 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 survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted December 5-December 11, 2011 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.

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December 13, 2011

New Hampshire: Romney 33%, Gingrich 22%, Paul 18%, Huntsman 10%

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney remains on top of the New Hampshire Republican Primary field, but the race for second place between Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul is a lot closer than it was just two weeks ago.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters shows Romney with 33% of the vote, followed by Gingrich at 22%. Paul now picks up 18% support, his best showing in the Granite State so far. Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman comes in fourth with 10% of the vote, with no other candidate reaching double digits. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Support for Romney, Gingrich and Huntsman is little changed from the previous survey, but Paul has now closed the 10-point gap between him and Gingrich to just four points. 

Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann now each pick up three percent (3%) support in New Hampshire. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, while five percent (5%) are undecided.

Forty-seven percent (47%) of New Hampshire GOP primary voters are now certain of how they will vote, up from 42% two weeks ago. Just over half (53%) say they could change their minds between now and the January 10 primary.

Romney's support is down eight points from late October.  Gingrich shot to second in New Hampshire late last month following a surge of support in both state and national surveys and a major newspaper endorsement in the Granite State. Both Perry and Georgia businessman Herman Cain, who has since suspended his campaign, took turns in second place in New Hampshire in September and October. Paul has steadily remained in third in all of those surveys.

Among Republican voters in Iowa, Gingrich leads with 32% of the vote over Romney’s 19%, but this survey also includes Cain. Rasmussen Reports will release new numbers on the Iowa Caucus later this week.

(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 New Hampshire survey of 721 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on December 12, 2011 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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December 13, 2011

Election 2012: Obama 43%, Paul 35%

Texas Congressman Ron Paul's support remains unchanged since September as he continues to run several points behind President Obama in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Obama earning 43% support to Paul’s 35%.

The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 10-11, 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.

December 13, 2011

Voters Like Romney Best, But GOP Voters Give Edge to Gingrich

Mitt Romney is still the Republican candidate that voters like the most, while Texas Governor Rick Perry remains the GOP hopeful they like the least. Among Republican voters, however, Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are running neck-and-neck, but Gingrich has the edge when it comes to enthusiasm.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters share at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Romney and 38% regard the former Massachusetts governor unfavorably.

(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 December 8-9, 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.

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December 13, 2011

Obama’s Big Class-Warfare Theme By Lawrence Kudlow

Following the GOP debate that nearly the whole world watched on Saturday night, the president on Sunday made it very clear that he will not back off his class-warfare vision in the coming year. Obama told Steve Kroft on 60 Minutes that middle-class inequality will be his big theme, and that somehow successful earners, investors, and small-business owners are to blame.

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December 13, 2011

Other Reasons Why French Women Don't Get Fat By Froma Harrop

Yes, there are those charming reasons "French Women Don't Get Fat," as outlined in the popular book of that name by Mireille Guiliano.  Portion control is key. Frenchwomen may eat their famously rich sauces and fatty pates with gusto, but only in dainty amounts. They go for quality over quantity and avoid "diet" foods -- said to drain off the hearty flavors that sate appetites. And, of course, they walk more.

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December 13, 2011

Obama Runs Second to Republicans In Voter Trust On Key Issues

Just over one-third of Likely U.S. Voters trust President Obama more than the Republican candidates for president when it comes to the handling of the economy, national security and health care. However, the president does have the trust of more voters than any individual GOP candidate at this time.

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December 12, 2011

Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 42%, Democrats 39%

Republicans hold a three-point advantage over Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot for the week ending Sunday, Dec. 11. 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% 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.