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November 1, 2011Generic Republican 47%, Obama 42%
For nearly four months, a generic Republican candidate has led President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 matchup.  A GOP candidate now holds a five-point advantage over the incumbent for the week ending Sunday, October 30.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the generic Republican earning 47% support, while the president picks up 42% of the vote.
The survey of 3,500 Likely Voters was conducted October 24-30, 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.
November 1, 2011October Employment Index Shows Less Confidence Among Workers
The Rasmussen Employment Index, which measures workers’ perceptions of the labor market each month, slipped two points in October to 71.7.
The Employment Index is still up two points from August’ recent low of 69.3, but worker confidence is down five points from the beginning of 2011 and six points from last October. Generally speaking, a decrease in the Rasmussen Employment Index suggests the upcoming government reports on job creation will be worse than prior months.
(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 8,501 working Americans was conducted in October 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 1 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology .
November 1, 2011Obama 43%, Cain 38%
Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain, who is dealing with a media firestorm surrounding past accusations of sexual harassment, earns the same level of support against President Obama as he did a week ago.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows the president picking up 43% of the vote to Cain’s 38%.
The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 30-31, 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.
November 1, 2011Partisan Trends: 34.3% Republican, 33.1% Democrat
The number of Republicans increased by half a percentage point in October, while the number of Democrats decreased by a similar amount.
During the month of October, 34.3% of Americans considered themselves to be Republicans, up from 33.9% in September.  The number of Democrats fell to 33.1% from 33.7% the month before. September marked the smallest gap between the parties in nearly nine years of monthly tracking.
November 1, 2011Romney Still Viewed As Most Mainstream of Presidential Candidates
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney continues to be regarded by voters as closer to the political mainstream than other leading candidates running for the White House. Voters are evenly divided on whether President Obama, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, or businessman Herman Cain are in the political mainstream but tend to see Texas Governor Rick Perry’s views as extreme.
Forty-eight percent (48%) see Romney’s views as mainstream. Only 23% think his views are extreme while 29% aren’t sure.
(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 October 30-31, 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.
November 1, 2011Keeping the Silent Majority on the Occupiers' Side By Froma Harrop
Conditions at some of the "Occupy" tent sites started going downhill at a most inopportune time. A New York Times/CBS poll had just reported that 47 percent of the public said that the movement's views reflect those of most Americans (with only 34 percent saying they do not). On the ground, the homeless were moving into several encampments, joined by various hangers-on drawn to the excitement.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            November 1, 2011Only 22% Support Giving States $35 Billion to Prevent Teacher, First Responder Layoffs
President Obama is pushing Congress to pass his plan to give $35 billion to state and local governments to prevent layoffs of teachers and first responders such as firemen, policemen and rescue squad workers. But most Americans think state and local governments should tighten their financial belts instead.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 22% of Americans think the federal government should give states and localities $35 billion to prevent such layoffs. Nearly three times as many adults (64%) believe that the best way for state and local governments to avoid these layoffs is to cut back on other spending. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
October 31, 2011Generic Congressional Ballot:  Republicans 43%, Democrats 40%
Republicans remain ahead of Democrats on the Generic Congressional Ballot but only by three points for the week ending Sunday, October 30. 
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 was held now, while 40% would choose the Democrat instead.
(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.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            October 31, 2011Wisconsin: Perry 46%, Obama 42%
Barack Obama carried Wisconsin easily in the 2008 presidential election, but he is slightly behind Texas Governor Rick Perry and runs just ahead of two other top Republican hopefuls in Rasmussen Reports’ first Election 2012 look at the Badger State.
Perry earns 46% support from Likely Wisconsin Voters to Obama’s 42% in a new statewide telephone survey. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, and another six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Wisconsin was conducted on October 26, 2011 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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                            October 31, 2011Scott Rasmussen Discusses Government Deficit Reduction on Fox News
Scott Rasmussen talks to Patti Ann Browne on America's Newsroom about spending cuts and voter confidence in the bipartisan super committee to reduce the federal deficit.
October 31, 2011Obama 44%, Paul 35%
President Obama continues to lead Texas Congressman Ron Paul in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup. 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Obama earning 44% support to Paul’s 35%.  Thirteen percent (13%) prefer some other candidate, and eight percent (8%) are undecided.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            October 31, 201172% Think Middle-Class Tax Hike Likely In Any Budget-Cutting Deal
Voters have very little confidence that the bipartisan congressional super committee will find a way to significantly cut the federal deficit and believe overwhelmingly that taxes will be raised on the middle class in whatever budget-cutting deal Congress and the president reach.
As a result of last summer’s debt-ceiling deal, the 12-member super committee was created to find a way by Thanksgiving to cut the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years, but just 19% of Likely U.S. Voters think the group is even somewhat likely to agree on a deficit-cutting plan by then.
The national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on October 28-29, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points witha 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
October 31, 201154% Favor Repeal of Health Care Reform Law
Most voters nationwide still favor repeal of the national health care law, but fewer than half of those who already have health insurance think the law will force a change in their coverage.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows that 54% at least somewhat favor repeal of the health care law, with 42% who Strongly Favor it. Thirty-nine percent (39%) at least somewhat oppose repeal, with 27% who are Strongly Opposed. (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 October 28-29, 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.
October 31, 2011In Foreign Affairs, Obama Needs Respect, Not Love By Michael Barone
The argument is being made in some quarters that, however unsuccessful Barack Obama's domestic policies have been, his record in foreign policy has been successful. But when you examine the claims of success, they seem a bit peculiar.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            October 31, 201134% Plan To Pass Out Candy on Halloween
There's more commercial emphasis on Halloween than ever but little or no change in the number of adults getting into the spirit of the holiday.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            October 30, 201131% Believe in Ghosts
It's that time of year again for visits to haunted houses and tales of ghastly ghouls.  How about this for a story?  More Americans than ever say they believe in ghosts.
 
 A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that now nearly one-in-three American Adults (31%) believe in spectral phenomena. Sixty-two percent (62%) do not, but seven percent (7%) aren't sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            October 30, 201164% Say U.S. Society Fair and Decent
Most voters expect those who move here to adopt America's culture but still believe American society is fair and decent.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that nearly two-out-of three Likely U.S. Voters (64%) think society in this country is fair and decent. Twenty-six percent (26%) disagree and feel American society is unfair and discriminatory.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                
                
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                            October 29, 2011Wisconsin Governor: Walker's Approval Numbers Edge Up Slightly
Nearly seven months after large-scale protests first erupted in Wisconsin against his budget bill limiting collective bargaining rights for public employees, new polling shows state voters have a slightly improved opinion of Governor Scott Walker.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Wisconsin Voters shows that 38% Strongly Approve of the job Walker is doing, while the same number (38%) Strongly Disapproves.
The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Wisconsin was conducted on October 26, 2011 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.
October 29, 2011What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending October 29, 2011
For many conservatives and Tea Party voters, the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination boils down to “anyone but Romney.” Yet the former Massachusetts governor remains a frontrunner for the nomination, while the various conservative hopefuls rise and fall.
Romney is still the GOP presidential contender who voters consider most qualified to be president, although he falls short of the number who feel that way about President Obama.
October 28, 201137% Say America's Best Days Are in the Future
With the economy still in the tank, unemployment hovering around nine percent (9%) and a Congress and president that cannot cooperate, a plurality of U.S. voters continues to believe America's best days are behind us.
 
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 37% of Likely Voters think America's best days are in the future, while 45% say those days are in the past.  Eighteen percent (18%) are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)