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November 26, 2008

More Voters Trust Democrats on Economy Than Before Election

Despite bad economic news breaking nearly every day, voters trust Democrats more now to handle the economy than they did before Election Day.

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November 26, 2008

Defense Secretary Is Popular Holdover for Obama

Gates, who has been defense secretary for two years, is viewed favorably by 44% of U.S. voters, with 16% rating their view as Very Favorable. He is regarded unfavorably by just 21%, including seven percent (7%) who say their opinion of him is Very Unfavorable.

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November 26, 2008

Daschle-Obama Health Care Possibilities By Tony Blankley

As President-elect Obama's apparent choice for health and human services secretary and as White House health care czar, it is a fair guess that Tom Daschle's view on health care legislation may be decisive.

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November 26, 2008

Giving Thanks By Susan Estrich

The woman going up in the medical building elevator with me was so young and beautiful and carefree that it took my breath away. Young and beautiful is not so unusual in Beverly Hills. But carefree?

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November 25, 2008

Voters Have Low Opinion of Congressional Democrats Key to the Economy

The key Democrats on Capitol Hill who will be working to reverse the country’s financial downturn are better known than Barack Obama’s new economic team but not better thought of by voters.

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November 25, 2008

72% Say Christmas Season Comes Too Soon

With stores starting their Christmas sales in October and radio stations playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving, 72% of Americans say the joyous holiday season now comes too early.

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November 25, 2008

55% Oppose Taxpayer-Backed Loans to Big Three Automakers

Fifty-five percent (55%) of Americans oppose taxpayer-funded loans to help the Big Three automakers stay in business, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

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November 25, 2008

Democrats Lead by Five on Generic Ballot

The Democrats have moved to a five-point lead in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that, if given the choice, 44% of voters would vote for their district’s Democratic candidate, while 39% would choose the Republican candidate.

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November 25, 2008

Obama’s Pro-Growth Economic Team? By Lawrence Kudlow

When President-elect Obama had a chance to squash the tax-hike threat once and for all at his news conference Monday, he took a pass and let the question linger for another day. But his new economic cabinet appointments strongly suggest there will be no tax hikes next year.

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November 25, 2008

Giving Thanks for the Leftovers By Froma Harrop

Thanksgiving is upon us. This is the time for expressing gratitude. But what does one do on Thanksgiving this year, smack in the middle of perhaps the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression? You give thanks, dummy.

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November 24, 2008

Discover(R) Small Business Watch(SM): Small Business Economic Confidence Continues to Fall

The Discover(R) Small Business Watch (SM) continued to decline for the third straight month, dropping below 70.0 for the first time since the Watch was established in August 2006. The index fell 3.9 points in November to 67.5.

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November 24, 2008

Congressional Approval Rises a Point After Auto Bailout Rejected

Though just 12% of voters give Congress good or excellent job approval ratings, it’s the highest ratings for the legislature since mid-May.

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November 24, 2008

New Treasury Secretary An Unknown to 53% of Voters

Wall Street is reportedly reassured by President-elect Obama’s choice of Timothy Geithner to be secretary of the Treasury, but right now 53% of U.S. voters don’t know enough about him to have an opinion about his selection.

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November 24, 2008

49% Say U.S. Should Keep Guantanamo Prison Open

Nearly half of U.S. voters (49%) say the United States should not close the terrorist prison camp at Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba, but the identical number (49%) also say Barack Obama is Very likely to close it in the first year of his presidency.

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November 22, 2008

What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending November 21, 2008

This time it looks like Congress is listening to the voters. Nearly half of U.S. voters (48%) told Rasmussen Reports this week that it is better for the economy to let companies like General Motors fail rather than providing government subsidies to keep them in business.

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November 22, 2008

The Limits of Success -- and Failure By Michael Barone

We Americans are blessed with a history that teaches that things work out right. Our first president set the precedent of relinquishing power he could have had for life and returning to his farm. Two of our greatest presidents were struck down, Abraham Lincoln by an assassin and Franklin Roosevelt by grave illness, at a moment of transcendent victory.

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November 21, 2008

53% Give Obama Good Marks on Economy – Before He Takes Office

Over half of U.S. voters (53%) give Barack Obama good or excellent marks on how he will handle the economy, up five points since right after Election Day, although he won’t formally begin to execute his plans for another two months.

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November 21, 2008

Spike in War on Terror Confidence Fades

Following the election of Barack Obama on November 4, confidence in the War on Terror soared to all-time highs, but that spike in confidence has disappeared. Confidence is back to pre-election levels, still near the highest levels recorded in the past five years.

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November 21, 2008

Investors Pull Back: Savings Accounts Top Stocks and Real Estate For First Time

A plurality of investors - for the first time ever - say they would rather put new investment money in a bank savings account than in the stock market or in real estate. This marks a dramatic change over the past year in response to worsening conditions on Wall Street and other troubling economic factors.

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November 21, 2008

Why Obama Can Keep Gates By Joe Conason

As Barack Obama makes his way through the transition to power, he is learning the steps of an old dance. Having promised change, he now surrounds himself with experience. Having poured scorn not only on the Bush administration but at times on the Clinton administration as well, he now welcomes those who served his Democratic predecessor, including the former first lady who ran against him.