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August 19, 2014New High: 43% Say U.S. Doesn’t Spend Enough on National Security
As tensions remain high with Russia and much of the Middle East, more voters than ever believe the United States is not putting enough money into national security.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 43% of Likely U.S. Voters think the United States does not spend enough on the military and national security. This finding is up from 36% in May and is the highest finding in three years of regular tracking. Twenty-three percent (23%) still believe the United States spends too much on defense, but that's down 17 points from the record high of 40% in January 2013. Thirty percent (30%) say the amount spent in this area is about right. (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 August 12-13, 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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                            August 19, 2014Confidence in Short-Term Housing Market Slips to 2014 Low
Homeowners are slightly less confident than they’ve been in over a year that their home’s value will increase in the short-term. Confidence in their home's current value has fallen back as well. Thirty-four percent (34%) of U.S. homeowners now think the value of their home will go up in the next year, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s down four points from July and is the lowest level of confidence measured since July of last year. Fourteen percent (14%) expect the value of their home to go down over the next year, while 48% still expect it to stay about the same. (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 640 Adult Homeowners was conducted on August 17-18, 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.

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                            August 19, 2014Minnesota Governor: Dayton (D) 49%, Johnson (R) 41%
Former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton has an eight-point advantage in his bid for a second term as governor of Minnesota.
(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 Minnesota was conducted on August 13-14, 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.

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                            August 19, 2014How Would the Media React If the Cop Was Black and the Victim Was White?
Most Americans think the media would be less interested in the incident in Ferguson, Missouri if a white teenager had been shot by a black police officer. They also reject the idea that most policemen are racist. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 35% of American Adults rate the media’s coverage of the police shooting and subsequent events in Ferguson as good or excellent. Twenty-three percent (23%) say the media have done a poor job covering the story. (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 telephone survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on August 15-16, 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.
August 19, 2014Racing Through Nature by Froma Harrop
The story of a young man's speed-hiking the 2,663-mile Pacific Crest Trail has raised some environmentalist eyebrows, albeit only slightly. He was racing from California's border with Mexico to Washington state's with Canada.
The cause was a good one -- to raise money for the families of cancer patients. And it wasn't like he was making noise and pollution.
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

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                            August 19, 201447% Say A Family Member Has Been Diagnosed with Depression
The shocking suicide of comedian-actor Robin Williams has highlighted the dangers of clinical depression, and Americans strongly agree more needs to be done to identify and treat it. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 87% of American Adults think clinical depression is a serious problem in America today, with 52% who view it as a Very Serious one. Just six percent (6%) regard it as not very or Not At All Serious following Williams' death.(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 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted August 13-14, 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.
August 19, 2014Hillary Clinton Not Campaigning Much for her Party in 2014, Unlike Richard Nixon in 1966 By Michael Barone
Just about everyone noticed Hillary Clinton's scathing comments on President Obama's foreign policy in her interview with The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg.
But almost no one has noticed where Clinton hasn't been seen. That's on the campaign trail or at fundraisers for Democrats running for the Senate.

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                            August 18, 2014Generic Congressional Ballot: Democrats 39%, Republicans 39%
For the second time in a month, Democrats and Republicans are tied on the latest Generic Congressional Ballot.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey for the week ending August 17 finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters would vote for the Republican in their district’s congressional race if the election were held today, while the same number (39%) would choose the Democrat.
(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 August 11-17, 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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                            August 18, 2014Minnesota Senate: Franken (D) 50%, McFadden (R) 42%
Live from Minnesota, it’s Democratic Senator Al Franken’s bid for reelection, and he’s got an eight-point lead over Republican challenger Mike McFadden.
(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 Minnesota was conducted on August 13-14, 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.

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                            August 18, 2014A Tale of Two Cities? Blacks, Whites Sharply Disagree About Ferguson
The shooting incident in a St. Louis suburb is still under investigation, and just over half of Americans are not sure yet whether the police officer involved is guilty of murdering a black teenager. But most blacks have already made up their minds that the policeman should be found guilty. Blacks are also more convinced that the violent protests since the shooting occurred are mostly legitimate outrage rather than criminal activity.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 23% of all American Adults believe the police officer who shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri should be found guilty of murder. Twenty-six percent (26%) think he was acting in self-defense. Fifty-one percent (51%) 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 telephone survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on August 15-16, 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.

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                            August 18, 2014Business Is Steadily Growing At New Health Insurance Exchanges
Nearly half of voters remain unaware whether their state has established a health insurance exchange under the new national health care law, but the number who are buying health insurance through one of these exchanges is steadily increasing.
Nineteen percent (19%) of Likely U.S. Voters now say they or a member of their immediate family has bought health insurance though a new health care exchange, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. That’s up from 15% last month and up from just four percent last November after the problem-plagued launch of the federally-operated exchange and state-run exchanges around the country. (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 August 16-17, 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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                            August 17, 2014Iowa Governor: Branstad (R) 52%, Hatch (D) 35%
Incumbent Republican Terry Branstad has widened his lead over Democratic challenger Jack Hatch in Iowa’s gubernatorial race.
Branstad picks up 52% of the vote to Hatch’s 35% in a new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Iowa Voters. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, while seven percent (7%) 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 Iowa was conducted on August 11-12, 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.

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                            August 17, 2014Iowa Governor: Branstad (R) 52%, Hatch (D) 35%
Incumbent Republican Terry Branstad has widened his lead over Democratic challenger Jack Hatch in Iowa’s gubernatorial race.
Branstad picks up 52% of the vote to Hatch’s 35% in a new Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Iowa Voters. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, while seven percent (7%) 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 Iowa was conducted on August 11-12, 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.

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                            August 16, 2014What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls: Week of August 16
Get out of my face: That’s the message most voters still have for the federal government six years into the presidency of the man who hoped to make us all believers in big government.
Sixty percent (60%) of Americans believe instead that the federal government plays too big a role in the lives of average Americans.  
Of course, it doesn't help that voters by a two-to-one margin consider the federal government today a threat to individual liberty rather than a protector. Only 19% trust the feds to do the right thing most or nearly all the time.

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                            August 15, 2014Tennessee Governor: Haslam (R) 55%, Brown (D) 30%
Incumbent Republican Bill Haslam is well ahead of his Democratic challenger Charles Brown in Tennessee's gubernatorial contest. (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 Tennessee was conducted on August 11-12, 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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                            August 15, 2014Wisconsin Governor: Walker (R) 48%, Burke (D) 47%
It may be the nation’s closest-watched governor’s race, and it remains dead even.
(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 Wisconsin was conducted on August 13-14, 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.

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                            August 15, 2014Americans Say Their Favorite Robin Williams Movie Is…
No wonder Hollywood was planning a sequel to “Mrs. Doubtfire.” An overwhelming number of Americans say they have seen a film starring the late Robin Williams, and that film is their favorite.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 86% of American Adults share a favorable opinion of the actor and comedian who committed suicide earlier this week. This includes 52% with a Very Favorable view. Just eight percent (8%) have a somewhat or Very Unfavorable opinion of Williams. (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 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted August 13-14, 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.
August 15, 2014Fidelity to Principle Can Make Needed Flexibility Impossible By Michael Barone
Politicians have ranges of positions of varying widths that they find acceptable. Hillary Clinton, like her husband, has a very wide range of stands she finds acceptable, depending on timing and circumstances. President Obama's range of acceptable positions has been far narrower
This is reflected in their attitudes about military action in Iraq. Clinton was for it in 2002 and was against it by 2007. Obama was always against what he called a "dumb war."
August 15, 2014Ranting About Robin Williams, Limbaugh Exposes a Hole in His Own Soul By Joe Conason
Having infuriated millions of Robin Williams fans with insensitive remarks on the late actor's suicide, Rush Limbaugh now blames the "liberal media" and "despicable leftists" for distorting his innocent message.
This is an old dodge for Limbaugh. Yet however he parses his language, there can be no doubt that he sought to exploit a tragic event for what he likes to call "political education." His attempt to brand Williams' suicide with "the leftist worldview" was perfectly plain. And as usual, his alibi is plainly false.

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                            August 15, 2014Who Still Needs A Newspaper Subscription?
America used to be a nation of newspaper readers, but a sizable number of newspaper subscribers say they have dropped their subscriptions in the past five years.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of American Adults still prefer reading the printed version of the news to reading it online, but that's down from 69% five years ago.  One-in-three Americans (33%) prefer reading the online version of the news, up from 24% in May 2009. 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 national survey of 1,000 Adults nationwide was conducted August 11-12, 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.