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29% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending October 5.

The number who say the country is heading in the right direction is up four points from the previous week and is the highest finding since early June. This number has been below 30% most weeks during the past year.

(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 on September 30-October 5, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Few Think High School Grads Have Skills for College, Workforce

Voters don’t hold much hope for the Class of 2015 – most say high school graduates today don’t have the skills for either college or the workforce.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 22% of Likely U.S. Voters think most high school graduates today have the skills needed for college. This is up slightly from May and in line with findings from earlier this year. Fifty-nine percent (59%) disagree, down eight points from May, which was the highest level of concern about high schoolers’ college readiness to date. Twenty percent (20%) 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 October 5-6, 2014 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.

North Carolina Senate: Hagan (D) 48%, Tillis (R) 46%

The critical North Carolina Senate race has tightened up with less than a month to go until Election Day.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely North Carolina Voters finds incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan earning 48% support to Republican challenger Thom Tillis’ 46%. Two percent (2%) prefer another candidate in the race, and four percent (4%) 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.

The survey of 970 Likely Voters in North Carolina was conducted on October 6-7, 2014 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.

Georgia Governor: Deal (R) 49%, Carter (D) 43%

Republican Governor Nathan Deal has pulled to his largest lead yet over Democratic challenger Jason Carter in his bid for reelection in Georgia.

Deal now picks up 49% of the vote to Carter’s 43% in the latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Georgia Voters. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while six percent (6%) 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 in Georgia was conducted on September 30-October 1, 2014 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 41%, Republicans 39%

Democrats have a two-point lead on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending October 5 finds that 41% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Republican.

(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 from September 29-October 5, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.

48% Still Oppose Individual Insurance Mandate, 40% Favor

Voters still aren’t sold on Obamacare’s individual insurance mandate.

Forty-eight percent (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters oppose the new health care law’s requirement that every American buy or obtain insurance. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 40% disagree and believe the government should require Americans to have health insurance. Eleven percent (11%) 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 October 3-4, 2014 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending October 4, 2014

What did Shakespeare’s Macbeth say of life? “It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” He might just as well have been talking about politics in America today.

Georgia Senate: Perdue (R) 46%, Nunn (D) 42%

Republican David Perdue still holds a slight lead over Democrat Michelle Nunn inGeorgia's U.S. Senate race. 

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely GeorgiaVoters finds Perdue drawing 46% of the vote to Democrat Nunn’s 42%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while nine percent (9%) 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 in Georgia was conducted on September 30-October 1, 2014 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.

Colorado Governor: Hickenlooper (D) 50%, Beauprez (R) 46%

In Colorado’s other contentious election, Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper has pulled slightly ahead of Republican challenger Bob Beauprez in his bid to keep his job.

Hickenlooper now picks up 50% of the vote to Beauprez’s 46% in the latest statewide telephone survey of Likely Colorado Voters. Two percent (2%) 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. 

The survey of 950 Likely Voters in Colorado was conducted on September 29-30, 2014 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.

Americans Don’t Think Incumbents Deserve Reelection

Incumbents might have something to worry about this November as voters do not think their local representative is good for the job nor that they deserve to be reelected.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 23% of Likely U.S. Voters think their representative in Congress is the best person for the job. This finding is up slightly from June which was the lowest finding since November 2009. A plurality (41%) believes their local representative is not the best person for the job. This is down six points from the previous survey and is the lowest finding since June 2013. Thirty-six percent (36%) 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 September 25-26, 2014 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.

25% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction

Twenty-five percent (25%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the right direction, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending September 28.

The number who say the country is heading in the right direction is unchanged from the previous week and has been below 30% most weeks during the past year. 

(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 on September 22-28, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Colorado Senate: Gardner (R) 48%, Udall (D) 47%

One of the most crucial races for Republicans to win control of the U.S. Senate remains a dead heat with just over a month to go until Election Day.

A new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Colorado Voters finds Republican Cory Gardner picking up 48% of the vote to Democratic Senator Mark Udall’s 47%. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate and 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. 

The survey of 950 Likely Voters in Colorado was conducted on September 29-30, 2014 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.

Obama’s Full-Month Approval Up One Point in September

When tracking President Obama’s job approval  on a daily basis, people sometimes get so caught up in the day-to-day fluctuations that they miss the bigger picture.  To look at the longer-term trends, Rasmussen Reports compiles the numbers on a full-month basis, and the results can be seen in the graphics below.  

The president’s monthly job approval climbed one point to 47% in September, up from his low for the year reached during the past two months. It's still up just two points from his two-year low of 45% reached last November during the troubled roll-out period for the new national health care law. Obama’s approval rating hit a year-to-date high of 49% in February and May.

(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.

Daily tracking results are collected via telephone surveys of 500 likely voters per night. The monthly numbers in this article are based on approximately 15,000 interviews each month with likely voters. The margin of sampling error is less than +/- 1 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Illinois Governor: Quinn (D) 44%, Rauner (R) 42%

Incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn has edged ahead for the first time this year in Illinois’ gubernatorial race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Illinois Voters finds Quinn with 44% support to Republican challenger Bruce Rauner’s 42%. Six percent (6%) like 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.

The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Illinois was conducted on September 24-25, 2014 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.

Arkansas Governor: Hutchinson (R) 46%, Ross (D) 42%

Republican Asa Hutchinson has pulled slightly ahead of Democrat Mike Ross in the race for Arkansas’ next governor.

Hutchinson now picks up 46% of the vote to Ross’ 42% in the latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Arkansas Voters. Four percent (4%) like another candidate in the race, 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.

The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Arkansas was conducted on September 24-25, 2014 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.

Rasmussen Employment Index Slips A Point in September

The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence fell slightly in September after reaching an all-time high in August.

At 100.3, worker confidence is down one point from 101.2 last month, the highest finding in six years of regular tracking. The index fell to a recent low of 81.2 last October but gained steadily after that. It stood at 82 in September of last year.

(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 9,284 working Americans was conducted in September 2014 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.

Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 40%, Republicans 39%

Democrats have taken a one-point lead on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending September 28 finds that 40% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while 39% would choose the Republican.

(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 from September 22-28, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey 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.

Alaska Governor: Walker (I) 47%, Parnell (R) 42%

The Alaska governor’s race has a revised cast of characters and a new front-runner.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Alaska Voters finds Independent candidate Bill Walker with a 47% to 42% lead over incumbent Republican Governor Sean Parnell. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate in the race, and six percent (6%) 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 713 Likely Voters in Alaska was conducted on September 23-24, 2014 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.

Voters Still Vote ‘No’ on Obamacare

Views of Obamacare hold steady again this week, with over half of voters continuing to express an unfavorable opinion of the national health care law and overwhelming majorities still calling for choices in health insurance that the law doesn’t allow.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters share a favorable view of the health care law, while 52% view it unfavorably. This includes 19% with a Very Favorable opinion and twice as many (37%) with a Very Unfavorable one. (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 September 27-28, 2014 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.

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls: Week Ending September 27

What if they gave an election and nobody came? Voters are pretty fed up with the cast of characters now on the national political stage.