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                            March 4, 2014Rasmussen Employment Index Gains Two Points in February
The Rasmussen Employment Index which measures worker confidence rose two points in February, continuing the upward trend it began in November.
At 92.1, worker confidence is at its highest level since June but is still down two points from the all-time high of 94.4 in May of last year. The index hit a low for 2013 of 81.2 in October. It stood at 85.6 in February a year ago.
(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 9,237 working Americans was conducted in February 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.

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                            March 4, 201416% Think Young Blacks Better Off Under Obama
Few voters think life for young black Americans has improved under President Obama, and hopes aren’t high that the president’s new My Brother’s Keeper initiative will make things any better.
Just 16% of Likely U.S. Voters think life for young black Americans has gotten better since Obama’s election in November 2008, while 22% believe it’s gotten worse. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that half (49%) feel life for these Americans is about the same. Twelve percent (12%) 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 March 2-3, 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.
March 4, 2014Where Anyone Can Act by Froma Harrop
This year, two big dress-up events fall in the same week. But the Academy Awards and Mardi Gras couldn't be more different. At the Hollywood party, the common people are supposed to venerate the stars. In Mardi Gras, the commoners are the stars.
And that's what makes Mardi Gras feel so much more modern than the bouncer-dominated world of movie celebrity. Never mind that "Fat Tuesday" -- for many Christians the carnival preceding the somber period of Lent -- dates back to medieval times and the Oscars to 1929.
Follow Froma Harrop on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com. To find out more about Froma Harrop and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM
March 4, 2014Don't Write Those Tea Party Obituaries Just Yet By Michael Barone
February marked the fifth anniversary of the reemergence of the label "Tea Party" in American politics. It was in February 2009 that Rick Santelli delivered his famous rant on CNBC, and a few days later, a group calling itself the Tea Party Patriots was organized.

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                            March 4, 2014Just 23% Think Government Spending Cuts Likely Over Next Few Years
The Obama administration is proposing substantial cuts in the nation's defense budget, and most voters agree that across-the-board spending cuts are in order, as long as entitlement programs are not excluded. But few expect spending cuts of any kind in the near future.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely U.S. Voters think thoughtful spending cuts should be considered in every program of the federal government. One-in-four (24%) disagree. Eighteen percent (18%) 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 February 26-27, 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.

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                            March 3, 2014Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 39%, Republicans 36%
Democrats hold a three-point lead over Republicans on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending Sunday, March 2, finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Democrat in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today. Thirty-six percent (36%) would choose the Republican instead. This is the first time both parties have earned less than 40% support since mid-September, suggesting there is a high level of voter unhappiness with the two of them. 
(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 February 24-March 2, 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. 

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                            March 3, 2014Obama's Job Approval Is Up by One in February
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 rating rose a point to 49% in February. That’s up from 45% in November, the president’s lowest monthly approval in two years, but still down seven points from December 2012’s recent high of 56%. The president's daily job approval ratings took a hard hit in November from the problems surrounding the rollout of the new national health care law. Through much of November and early December, Obama’s daily job approval ratings were at the lowest levels of his entire presidency. In recent weeks, however, his approval ratings have been running at levels seen for much of the last five years.
(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.

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                            March 3, 201437% Favor Diplomatic Action Against Russia Over Ukraine
As tensions escalate over Ukraine, U.S. voters are increasingly critical of Russia but are evenly divided over whether the United States should try to punish the Russians diplomatically.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 37% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States should take diplomatic action if Russia gets directly involved in the political situation in Ukraine. But just as many (36%) disagree and oppose U.S. diplomatic action against Russia. Twenty-seven percent (27%) 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 February 28 -March 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.
March 3, 2014To Defeat GOP's Restrictive Voting Laws, Debunk 'Voter Fraud' By Joe Conason
Growing up in Jim Crow Arkansas, Bill Clinton saw how the state's dominant political and racial elite maintained power by suppressing the rights of minority voters who threatened its authority -- and as a young activist, worked to bring down that illegitimate power structure. So when Clinton says, "There is no greater assault on our core values than the rampant efforts to restrict the right to vote" -- as he does in a new video released by the Democratic National Committee -- the former president knows of what he speaks.

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                            March 3, 201433% Say They’ve Been Personally Hurt by Health Care Law
One-in-three U.S. voters now says his or her health insurance coverage has changed as a result of Obamacare, and the same number say the new national health care law had a negative personal impact on them. 
Forty percent (40%) of Likely U.S. Voters have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the health care law, while 56% regard it unfavorably, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This includes 16% who view the law Very Favorably and 41% who have a Very Unfavorable opinion of it. (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 February 28 – March 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.

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                            March 2, 201425% Think High School Graduates Have Skills Needed For A Job
Voters aren’t exactly thrilled with the skills possessed by students graduating from high school these days, but they are slightly more confident that they are prepared to enter the workforce.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 25% of Likely U.S. Voters think most high school graduates have the skills needed to enter the workforce. But that’s up from 21% last October and the highest level of optimism measured in tracking since March 2012.  Sixty-four percent (64%) still don’t think most graduates have the skills needed to work. 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 February 24-25, 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.

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                            March 1, 2014What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls - Week Ending March 1, 2014
It’s tax time, and Americans aren’t in much of a spending mood.

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                            February 28, 2014South Dakota Governor: Daugaard (R) 63%, Lowe (D) 23%
Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard holds a three-to-one lead over his likely Democratic challenger in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 gubernatorial race in South Dakota.
A new statewide telephone survey of Likely South Dakota Voters finds Daugaard with 63% support to former state fire chief Joe Lowe’s 23%. Five percent (5%) 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 500 Likely Voters in South Dakota was conducted on February 25-26, 2014 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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                            February 28, 201448% Favor Obama’s $302 Billion Program for Roads and Bridges
Nearly half of voters favor the new infrastructure plan President Obama proposed this week. But most lack confidence that the government will spend the money correctly and think cutting spending is a better way to help the economy.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters favor a new $302 billion federal program to help rebuild and repair roads and bridges. Just 29% oppose the new program, while 22% 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 February 26-27, 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.
February 28, 2014Protesters in Ukraine and Venezuela Seek the Rule of Law By Michael Barone
What motivates people to demonstrate in central squares, day after day and week after week, against repressive regimes at the risk of life and limb? It's a question raised most recently by events in Ukraine and Venezuela.

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                            February 28, 2014South Dakota Senate: Rounds (R) 51%, Weiland (D) 31%
Former Governor Mike Rounds has a commanding lead over Democrat Rick Weiland in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the likely 2014 U.S. Senate race in South Dakota.
A new statewide telephone survey of Likely South Dakota Voters finds Rounds ahead of Weiland by 20 points - 51% to 31% - in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Senator Tim Johnson. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, while 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 500 Likely Voters in South Dakota was conducted on February 25-26, 2014 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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                            February 27, 201420% Expect to Use a Digital Currency Like Bitcoin In Next Five Years
The majority of Americans have never used Bitcoin, the peer-to-peer payment system and digital currency, and most do not plan on using the system within the next five years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only two percent (2%) of American Adults have used Bitcoin to date. (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 American Adults was conducted on February 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.

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                            February 27, 201445% Oppose Minimum Wage Hike If It Costs Jobs, 39% Still Favor
Overall support for raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour has fallen following a new Congressional Budget Office report that measures the impact of the wage hike on the economy. Support dips even lower when Americans are made aware of the potential for lost jobs.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of American Adults now favor raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. That’s down from 55% in late January and 61% last July. Thirty-nine percent (39%) oppose raising the minimum wage to that level, showing no change from last month. 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 American Adults was conducted on February 23-24, 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.

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                            February 27, 201466% Oppose Religious Freedom Law Like Arizona’s
Most Americans don’t want a religious freedom law in their state like the one vetoed yesterday by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, but they continue to strongly support a private photographer’s right to not photograph a same-sex wedding for religious reasons.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 20% of American Adults favor a law in their state that would allow businesses to refuse service to customers for religious reasons. Sixty-six percent (66%) oppose such a law in their state. Fourteen percent (14%) 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 American Adults was conducted on February 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.
February 27, 2014Hurray for GOP Tax Plan by Froma Harrop
A Republican leader is doing something right ... and good. He is Rep. David Camp of Michigan. Camp has issued a detailed plan for simplifying the tax code. That's his duty as chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, which writes tax law.
Reforming the 70,000-page abomination that is our tax laws -- and making them fairer -- has long been a stated goal of both parties. But it is a notoriously unpleasant job because it involves doing away with tax loopholes that have vocal and deep-pocketed supporters.
Follow Froma Harrop on Twitter @FromaHarrop. She can be reached at fharrop@gmail.com. To find out more about Froma Harrop and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM