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                            February 6, 2015More Voters Say U.S. Needs to Spend More on Defense
As President Obama releases his latest National Security Strategy, more voters than ever think the country does not spend enough on the military and national security and that, in order to ensure its safety, the U.S. needs to spend at least three times as much on defense as any other nation.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States does not spend enough on the military and national security. This is up eight points from November and the highest finding to date. Nineteen percent (19%) still believe the United States spends too much on defense, but this view has been trending downward since January 2013 when it reached a record high of 40%. Twenty-six percent (26%) say the country spends about the right amount in this area. (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 800 Likely Voters was conducted on February 4-5, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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                            February 6, 2015More Americans Now Consider Themselves Among Working Poor
Although nearly half of working Americans expect to earn more money a year from today, slightly more now say they’re in poverty.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of employed American Adults say they’ll be earning more money a year from today, down from 50% in surveys since July. Just 12% expect to earn less money in a year, while 33% think their salaries will remain about the same over the next 12 months, generally in line with recent surveys. (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 571 Employed Adults was conducted on February 3-4, 2015 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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                            February 6, 2015Voters Criticize Obama’s Response to ISIS ‘War Crimes’
Voters say President Obama has not been vocal enough in criticizing the atrocities by the radical Islamic group ISIS and believe overwhelmingly that those involved in these acts should be tried for war crimes.
The Islamic State group also known as ISIS or ISIL has now publicly beheaded several civilians and just this week burned a captured Jordanian military pilot to death. But 56% of Likely U.S. Voters think the president has not spoken out strongly enough against these horrific acts. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 34% believe Obama has spoken out enough. Ten percent (10%) 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 800 Likely Voters was conducted on February 4-5, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
February 6, 2015A Candidate With Appeal to Both Suburban and Countryside Republicans? By Michael Barone
Can a single speech at an Iowa political event change the course of a presidential nomination race? Maybe.
It actually has happened. Barack Obama's November 2007 speech at a Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner in Des Moines is generally credited with giving him a lift toward winning the caucuses there two months later and putting him on the path to the presidency.

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                            February 6, 2015Americans Are Still Pro-Death Penalty
Support for capital punishment in America remains steady, despite concerns about wrongful executions and uncertainty as to whether such punishment deters crime.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 57% of American Adults favor the death penalty. Just 26% are opposed, while 17% 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 800 American Adults was conducted on February 2-3, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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                            February 5, 2015Voters Still Think Most High School Graduates Fall Short
Just a quarter of voters think U.S. schools are doing a good job, and that reflects in their views of the preparedness of today’s high school graduates.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 27% of Likely U.S. Voters rate U.S. public schools as good or excellent. Just as many (28%) rate the school systems poorly, but that's down from 34% in December and the lowest finding in two years. (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 800 Likely Voters was conducted on February 2-3, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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                            February 5, 2015Americans Say Their Current Job Is Their Best Bet
Americans seem to be content with their current jobs as nearly half believe staying put affords them the best opportunity to get ahead. 
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds 47% of Employed Americans believe staying with their current job gives them the best chance for career advancement. This finding is up six points from December and is the highest finding since January 2013. Thirty-three percent (33%) think going to work for someone else affords them the best chance for career advancement. Twenty percent (20%) 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 571 Employed Adults was conducted on February 3-4, 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.
February 5, 2015A Fine Romance: Online Daters Hire Private Eyes By Froma Harrop
She was a lawyer, noisy but nice. He was a Marine, quiet and even nicer. They seemed an attractive, comfortable couple, so I was greatly surprised when -- after he left to use the men's room -- she leaned over to me at the next table and asked, "What do you think of him?"
They had connected through Tinder, the hot dating site known for emphasizing pictures. This was their first meeting.
"I think he's a prince," I responded, not knowing what else to say.

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                            February 5, 2015Most Still Favor Death Sentence for Colorado Theater Shooter
Most Americans still think the man who killed 12 and wounded 70 in a Colorado theater mass shooting in 2012 should get the death penalty, but there’s less support for punishing a suspect who’s proven to be mentally ill.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% of American Adults still believe the suspect in the Aurora, Colorado shooting should receive the death penalty if convicted. But that’s down 11 points from 66% in July 2012 just after the incident occurred. Twenty-five percent (25%) now say the mass killer should not get the death penalty, unchanged from the earlier survey, but nearly as many (20%) are now 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 800 American Adults was conducted on February 2-3, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
February 5, 2015A Major Reshuffling of the Republican Presidential Deck By Larry J. Sabato, Kyle Kondik and Geoffrey Skelley
For nearly two years we’ve been ranking the GOP presidential contenders, and we’ve only had two names in the No. 1 spot. Now, in our latest update, those two are together, and alone, at the top.
The new first tier is Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida, and Scott Walker, the governor of Wisconsin.

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                            February 5, 2015Most Say Media Hype Worse Than the Weather
Far fewer Americans think the winter weather has been worse in their area this year, but you wouldn’t necessarily know it by the media coverage.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 15% of Americans say this winter has been worse where they live than it has been in past years. That’s down dramatically from 62% a year ago and is the lowest level measured in five years. Seventy-five percent (75%) say this winter is not worse than in past years, while 10% 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 800 Adults was conducted on January 30-31, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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                            February 4, 2015Americans Insist: No Vaccine, No School
Following reports of a measles outbreak in 14 states, Americans are more concerned than ever about the danger unvaccinated children pose to others and overwhelmingly support requiring children to be vaccinated before being allowed to attend school.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 83% of American Adults are now at least somewhat concerned that children who do not receive all their vaccinations will cause health problems for other children. This includes 51% who are Very Concerned, up from 43% last April and 40% in 2010. Just 14% are not concerned about potential health problems caused by children who don’t receive their vaccinations, with four percent (4%) who are Not At All Concerned. (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 800 American Adults was conducted on January 30-31, 2015 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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                            February 4, 201534% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction
Thirty-four percent (34%) 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 February 1. 
This finding is down one point from the previous week which was the highest level of confidence since March 2013. The number of voters who think the country is heading in the right direction was below 30% most weeks for 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 2,800 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports from January 26-February 1, 2015. 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.

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                            February 4, 2015Voters Still So-So About Ukraine, Worry About Relations with Russia
The Obama administration is reportedly considering sending additional military aid including weapons to Ukraine to help it fight pro-Russian separatists. U.S. voters remain cool to that idea and worry about worsening U.S. relations with Russia.
Thirty-five percent (35%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe the United States should provide additional military assistance including weapons to Ukraine. But the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just as many (35%) are still opposed to sending lethal aid to Ukraine, while 30% 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 800 Likely Voters was conducted on February 2-3, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
February 4, 2015Parasites By John Stossel
Politicians and lawyers pretend that they are important people doing important work. But often they're important because they are parasites. They feed off others, while creating no wealth of their own.  

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                            February 4, 2015Most Americans Are Good Tippers
An overwhelming majority of Americans say they receive good service at the restaurants they visit, and they tip accordingly.
Eighty-eight percent (88%) of Americans are at least somewhat satisfied with the service they get in restaurants they visit, including 32% who are Very Satisfied. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just eight percent (8%) aren’t satisfied with their dining experiences, with one percent (1%) who are Not At All Satisfied. (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 800 American Adults was conducted on January 22-23, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 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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                            February 3, 2015Rasmussen Employment Index Slips in January
The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence slipped a point in January following two months in a row of six-year highs.
At 103.3, worker confidence is down from December’s 104.2. The index fell to a recent low of 81.2 in October 2013 but gained steadily after that. After the Wall Street meltdown in the fall of 2008, the index fell dramatically, hitting an all-time low of 57.8 in July 2009.
(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 9,364 working Americans was conducted in January 2015 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.
February 3, 2015Bad Policy, Bad Politics By Michael Barone
Word comes that Barack Obama's budget will, not surprisingly, call for ending the sequester spending limits now in effect. That's not surprising. White House aides proposed the sequester, but Obama thought it wouldn't go into effect because Republicans couldn't accept its sharp limits on defense spending. But with voters recoiling against foreign military involvement, they could and did.   
February 3, 2015What Killed the 'American Sniper'? By Froma Harrop
The second-most jarring scene in "American Sniper" takes place not in the urban maze of wartime Iraq but in the domestic tranquility of Chris Kyle's home in Texas. Disoriented after his fourth tour in the cauldron of Iraq, the heralded Navy SEAL is shown stalking his wife from room to room with a pistol. For a moment, we worry that he has flipped out and is going to shoot her. Turns out this was his playful way of initiating sex.
Foreplay, with a handgun.
The genius of "American Sniper" is its portrayal of a culture obsessed with guns. One expects heavy weaponry in war, but here there are guns all over the placid homefront, too. Guns are not just owned but waved. Guns as personal statements.

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                            February 3, 2015Many Voters See U.S.-Israel Relations Deteriorating
While American voters aren’t entirely convinced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should address Congress about Iran despite protest from the White House, a plurality also believes the relationship between the United States and Israel has gotten colder since President Obama took office.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely Voters think Netanyahu should accept Republican congressional leaders’ invitation to address Congress about Iran even if President Obama does not want him to come. Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree and don’t think the Israeli prime minister should address Congress. Twenty-three percent (23%) 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 800 Likely Voters was conducted on January 29-30, 2015 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.